plate no. 1060

Le Passage du mervillon

Mimi Parent, 1975

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingcityscaperainbowbutterflyfisharchitecturesurreal

experienced study

This painting provides practice in rendering architectural forms with subtle shading and creating a vibrant rainbow effect. Students can also explore surrealist concepts and symbolic representation through this piece.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the horizon line.
step 02
Sketch the rainbow arc and the butterfly's position.
step 03
Block in the dark background and the lighter tones of the buildings.
step 04
Begin layering colors for the rainbow, blending carefully.
step 05
Paint the butterfly, focusing on the color transitions and luminosity.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, including windows and architectural features.
step 07
Paint the fish and their skeletons in the foreground, using muted tones.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve the rainbow colors by carefully mixing the primary colors. Use white to lighten the tones of the buildings and create highlights. Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the dark background.

techniques

·color blending
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·rendering form with light and shadow
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones
→Inaccurate proportions of the buildings
→Uneven blending of the rainbow colors
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the cityscape

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·retarder medium
·varnish

Using a smooth canvas will help with blending. Consider using a medium to slow the drying time of the paints, especially for blending the rainbow colors.

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