plate no. 9011

Le déserteur

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingfigureslandscapetreesabstractsurreal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice creating surreal, dreamlike imagery through simplified forms and symbolic representation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of muted blues and browns, creating a subtle gradient.
step 03
Paint the large yellow figure, starting with a light base coat and gradually adding shadows and highlights.
step 04
Add details to the yellow figure, such as the face, brain, and legs, using fine brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the blue figure with a similar approach, using a base coat of blue and adding shadows and highlights to define the form.
step 06
Paint the tree stump and branches, using a mix of browns and grays.
step 07
Add the small tree in the background and any other details, such as the bird on top of the yellow figure.
step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, ensuring a cohesive and dreamlike atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of complementary colors. Use raw umber and white to create various shades of gray for the tree stump and background.

techniques

·glazing
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the forms.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which will disrupt the muted atmosphere.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point, which can make the composition feel disjointed.
→Inaccurate proportions in the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, raw umber, cerulean blue, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brush (size 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Linseed oil or acrylic medium