plate no. 6496
Red Engine
Sandor Bortnyik, 1918
some experience helpful
This painting helps students understand abstracting a subject into geometric forms and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive image. Students will also practice hard-edge painting and color mixing to achieve the desired hues.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic geometric shapes and their placement on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background.
- step 03
Mix the various shades of red, blue, and white, paying attention to subtle variations.
- step 04
Carefully paint the edges of each shape, ensuring clean lines.
- step 05
Add the smaller details, such as the circles and stripes.
- step 06
Refine the color and value relationships to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add the black outlines to define the shapes.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish if desired.
color palette
primary · red · white · blue · black
secondary · yellow · green · brown
Mix shades of red by adding black or white. Create the blues by mixing ultramarine blue with white. Achieve the greens by mixing yellow and blue.
techniques
- ·hard-edge painting
- ·color blocking
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·limited palette
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →uneven color application
- →muddy colors
- →inaccurate proportions
- →lack of clean edges
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use good quality paints to achieve vibrant colors. A medium can be used to thin the paints and improve flow.
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