plate no. 0093

Plain of Air

Rene Magritte, 1940

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintinglandscapeskycloudsmountainstreerocks

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending subtle color variations and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering smooth surfaces and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the tree/leaf shape and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, blending the colors to create a soft, cloudy effect.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with diluted blues and greens to establish atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Establish the foreground rocks with browns and grays, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 05
Paint the tree/leaf shape with a dark, muted color, paying attention to its smooth, rounded form.
step 06
Add the subtle texture to the leaf shape using a dry brush technique or fine lines.
step 07
Refine the details of the rocks and the sky, adjusting the values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and realism of the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or raw umber to create subtle variations in tone. Use raw umber and burnt sienna for the rocks, mixing in white to lighten the values. The tree/leaf is achieved with a mix of payne's gray and raw umber.

techniques