plate no. 8091

Palacios en Bría

Xul Solar, 1932

watercolorSurrealismgenre paintingcityscapefiguresarchitectureskygeometric shapessurreal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color relationships and how to create depth using geometric forms. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and applying watercolor washes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes and figures, paying attention to their placement and proportions.
step 02
Divide the composition into distinct areas: sky, horizon, and foreground.
step 03
Begin with light washes of color for the sky and horizon, gradually building up the intensity.
step 04
Apply flat washes of color to the geometric shapes, varying the hues and values to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the figures, such as clothing and facial features, using fine lines and small brushes.
step 06
Create shadows and highlights to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
step 07
Add the small details like the dots in the sky and the crosses.
step 08
Refine the edges and add any final touches to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow · red · blue · purple

secondary · brown · green · orange

Mix different shades of purple by combining red and blue. Create browns by mixing red, yellow, and blue. Achieve lighter tones by adding water to the watercolor paints.

techniques