plate no. 1970
Harmony
Remedios Varo, 1956
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex perspective, creating subtle color variations, and depicting surreal imagery. It will also encourage careful observation of details and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a detailed perspective sketch of the room, paying close attention to the orthogonal lines and vanishing points.
- step 02
Lightly sketch in the major elements: the figure, furniture, and wall details.
- step 03
Establish the base color for the walls and floor, using a muted palette of greens and yellows.
- step 04
Block in the main colors of the figure and furniture, focusing on accurate proportions and shapes.
- step 05
Begin layering in details, such as the musical notes, the patterns on the floor, and the textures on the walls.
- step 06
Carefully render the figure's face and clothing, paying attention to subtle shading and highlights.
- step 07
Add the surreal elements, such as the figures in the walls and the floating objects.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as highlights and shadows, to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · viridian
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light
Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white. Use raw umber and burnt sienna for the browns and wood tones, adjusting with white for highlights and ultramarine blue for shadows.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective will ruin the illusion of depth.
- →Overly saturated colors will detract from the painting's muted atmosphere.
- →Rushing the initial sketch will lead to inaccuracies in the final painting.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations will result in a flat, lifeless image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·acrylic paints
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. Consider using a medium to slow the drying time of the acrylics.
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