plate no. 1686

Sleeping Animals

Franz Marc, 1913

oilCubismanimal paintinganimalscubismabstractsleepinggeometric shapes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color relationships and how to use geometric shapes to represent organic forms. It also encourages experimentation with expressive brushstrokes and layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the animals and the surrounding geometric forms.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the background, focusing on the arrangement of warm and cool colors.
step 03
Begin layering colors within each shape, using slightly different hues to create depth and visual interest.
step 04
Define the animal forms with darker blues and purples, paying attention to the contours and overlapping shapes.
step 05
Add highlights using lighter blues, yellows, and whites to suggest form and light.
step 06
Refine the details of the geometric shapes, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 07
Use bold brushstrokes to add texture and energy to the composition.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance of color and form, making final adjustments as necessary.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Lemon yellow

secondary · Viridian green · Ultramarine blue · Orange

Mix various shades of blue and purple for the animals. Use yellow and blue to create greens, and red and yellow for oranges. Experiment with adding white to create lighter tints.

techniques

·Color blocking
·Layering
·Expressive brushstrokes
·Geometric abstraction
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, which can flatten the image.
→Losing the underlying structure of the geometric shapes.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Ignoring the interplay of warm and cool colors.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints
·Round and flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·Odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
·Rags

optional

·Painting medium (for glazing)
·Easel
·Apron

Using a limited palette and mixing your own colors will help you understand color relationships better. Consider using a medium to increase the transparency of your paints for layering.

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