plate no. 0080

Portrait aux fleurs

Victor Brauner, 1953

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingportraitfigureflowersabstractsymbolictrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified portraiture, color mixing for non-realistic skin tones, and creating abstract floral elements. It also encourages experimentation with brushstrokes and layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, halo, and floral elements using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of white paint, allowing some canvas texture to show through.
step 03
Apply the base colors for the face (purple, green), neck (blue), and body (black), keeping the tones flat.
step 04
Paint the halo with alternating light and dark strokes, creating a textured effect.
step 05
Add the floral elements, focusing on simple shapes and bold colors.
step 06
Introduce details like the eyes, mouth, and highlights on the body.
step 07
Refine the shapes and colors, adjusting the composition as needed.
step 08
Add the signature and date.

color palette

primary · purple · green · black · white

secondary · yellow · red · blue · tan

Mix purple by combining red and blue with white. Achieve the green by blending blue and yellow. Use white to lighten the colors and create variations in tone.

techniques

·flat color application
·dry brushing
·layering
·simplified shapes
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
→Using too much detail in the face, making it look realistic instead of stylized.
→Not achieving the right color balance, making the painting look muddy or unbalanced.
→Failing to capture the expressive brushstrokes.