plate no. 8550

La Mort #5

Bernard Buffet, 1999

oilExpressionismsymbolic paintingskeletonfiguredeathcrowbabyreligious

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork, creating texture with paint, and understanding how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. It will also help with understanding value and color temperature to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with loose, gestural strokes, using a muted color palette.
step 03
Define the skeleton's form with broad strokes of white, gray, and black, paying attention to the bone structure.
step 04
Add the blue veil, using a mix of blues and whites, and create texture with visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the baby within the womb, using pinks, reds, and browns, and blend the colors softly.
step 06
Add the crows with bold, black strokes, focusing on their silhouettes and dynamic poses.
step 07
Refine the details of the skeleton, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
step 08
Add the artist's signature and the year, using a contrasting color.

color palette

primary · black · white · blue

secondary · gray · red · brown

Mix different shades of gray by combining black and white. Create the blue veil by mixing blue with white and a touch of gray for a muted tone. Achieve the flesh tones of the baby by mixing red, brown, and white.

techniques

·Impasto
·Dry brushing
·Scumbling
·Chiaroscuro
·Expressive line work

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the skeleton.
→Not achieving enough contrast between light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (24x36 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints (black, white, blue, gray, red, brown)
·Assorted brushes (flat, round, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits (if using oil paints)
·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·Painting medium (for acrylics)
·Retarder (for acrylics)
·Varnish

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium if working with oils to speed up the drying process.

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