plate no. 3457

Grasshopper in front a House of Cards

Heorhiy Narbut, 1913

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationhouse of cardsgrasshopperdogplaying cardsskyfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in linear perspective, hatching, and creating depth through value variations. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light pencil sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to the perspective of the house of cards and the placement of the grasshopper and dog.
step 02
Begin by blocking in the darkest areas of the sky and the shadows on the house of cards using black or a very dark blue.
step 03
Add the base colors for the ground, using a mix of greens and blues.
step 04
Start building up the details of the house of cards, including the patterns on the cards and the architectural elements.
step 05
Carefully render the grasshopper figure, paying attention to the details of its anatomy and clothing.
step 06
Add the details of the dog and the surrounding environment.
step 07
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and texture throughout the painting.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · black · blue · green · beige

secondary · gold · purple · white

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows. Achieve the gold tones by mixing yellow with brown and a touch of orange. Create depth in the blues by adding small amounts of black or purple.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·linear perspective
·dry brushing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong underlying sketch can lead to inaccuracies in perspective and proportion.
→Overworking the details can result in a cluttered and confusing composition.
→Not paying attention to the value contrasts can flatten the image and reduce the sense of depth.
→Inconsistent hatching can create unwanted textures.

materials

surface · Illustration board or heavy drawing paper

required

·Pencil
·Eraser
·Drawing paper or illustration board
·Black ink or watercolor
·Fine-tipped pens or brushes
·Blue watercolor or ink
·Green watercolor or ink
·Beige watercolor or ink

optional

·Ruler
·Palette
·Mixing palette

Using archival quality materials will help ensure the longevity of the artwork. Experiment with different types of pens and brushes to find the ones that work best for you.

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