plate no. 3087

Portrait of Claude Sernet

Victor Brauner, 1927

oilSurrealismportraitportraitfigurelandscapetreeskyclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and creating a surreal atmosphere. It also encourages experimentation with brushstrokes and simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the proportions of the figure and the placement of the landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and the figure's clothing.
step 03
Mix the skin tones using white, gray, and a touch of green and blue, and apply them to the face and neck.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using darker shades of gray and black.
step 05
Paint the monocle, using white and gray to create a sense of reflection and transparency.
step 06
Develop the landscape, adding details to the tree and the ground.
step 07
Add the red flower on the jacket as a focal point.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and surreal image.

color palette

primary · gray · black · white

secondary · red · green · blue

Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white. Achieve the skin tone by mixing white, gray, a touch of green and blue. The red flower is a pure, saturated red.

techniques