plate no. 3937

Song Between Day and Night

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingfigurehorsemoonlandscaperockssea

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending colors to create smooth transitions and rendering the human figure and animal forms with light and shadow. It also encourages exploration of surreal and symbolic imagery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, horse, rocks, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, sea, rocks, horse, and figure.
step 03
Begin refining the shapes of the rocks and horse, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the figure, including the hair, skin tones, and flute.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the background details, such as the moon and distant land.
step 07
Blend the colors to create smooth transitions and a soft, dreamlike quality.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and whites for the sky and sea, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt sienna and alizarin crimson for the rocks, and mix white with a touch of yellow ochre and blue for the horse. Skin tones can be achieved with a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.

techniques