plate no. 7218

San Francisco

Xul Solar, 1917

oilExpressionismreligious paintingtreeshillsfigureskysnakesun

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, and in simplifying complex shapes into basic geometric forms. It also provides practice in creating a surreal and symbolic composition.

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 hills and trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Lightly block in the sky and background with a diluted wash of color.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the hills, starting with lighter tones and gradually adding darker shades to create form and shadow.
step 04
Paint the tree trunks with a base coat of brown, then add highlights and shadows to create a sense of roundness.
step 05
Paint the mushroom caps with a dark color, blending in lighter tones towards the edges.
step 06
Add the figure, snake, and sun, paying attention to their proportions and details.
step 07
Refine the details of the blanket and other decorative elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and contrast of the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · payne's gray

secondary · cadmium orange · raw sienna · titanium white

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the base tones for the hills and trees. Use Payne's gray to darken the shadows. Add titanium white to lighten the highlights.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall simplicity of the composition.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the hills and trees.