plate no. 5332

jede nacht besucht uns ein traum

Alfred Kubin, 1900

oilSymbolismsymbolic paintingfiguredreamlandscapeplantsdarksymbolic

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to create a moody atmosphere using a limited palette. It also provides practice in depicting organic forms and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones, gradually adding layers to create depth and form.
step 04
Focus on rendering the figure, using subtle value changes to define its shape.
step 05
Add details to the landscape, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast and create a sense of drama.
step 07
Soften edges and blend areas to create a dreamlike atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · sepia · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw umber

Achieve the various shades of gray and brown by mixing black and white with small amounts of sepia or raw umber. Use more white for highlights and more black for shadows.

techniques