plate no. 6384
Surprised!
Henri Rousseau, 1891
experienced study
Students would develop skills in layering complex foliage patterns and creating depth through overlapping forms. This painting teaches color temperature relationships and how to balance warm and cool greens in nature scenes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Start with a light pencil sketch mapping the tiger's position and major plant masses
- step 02
Block in the darkest foliage areas with deep forest green mixed with burnt umber
- step 03
Paint the tiger using burnt sienna and raw umber, establishing basic form and stripes
- step 04
Layer in mid-tone greens for the main leaf masses, varying temperatures
- step 05
Add lighter green highlights and yellow-green accents to create depth
- step 06
Paint individual leaves and fronds with careful attention to their distinctive shapes
- step 07
Add the red flowering plant as a color accent
- step 08
Refine tiger details including facial features and stripe patterns
color palette
primary · sap green · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · prussian blue · burnt umber
Create various green temperatures by mixing sap green with small amounts of burnt sienna for warmer tones, or with prussian blue for cooler shadows
techniques
- ·layered brushwork
- ·pattern repetition
- ·color temperature variation
- ·form modeling
- ·detailed leaf rendering
common pitfalls
- →making all greens the same temperature
- →losing the tiger in overly complex foliage
- →not establishing clear depth planes
- →rushing the intricate leaf patterns
materials
surface · stretched canvas primed with gesso
required
- ·oil paints in recommended colors
- ·#4 and #6 flat brushes
- ·#2 round detail brush
- ·16x20 inch canvas
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·#1 liner brush for fine details
- ·#8 flat brush for larger areas
- ·medium gloss varnish
- ·masking tape
This complex composition requires patience and multiple painting sessions to build up the intricate layers of foliage
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Shepherd and his Lover
Bertalan Por
The sketch to the movie "Colour of Pomegranate". "Muse"
Sergei Parajanov
Holy Mountain I
Horace Pippin
Gibraltar
Alfred Wallis
Willage. Horse Taming
Victor Palmov
Old Corn Mill, Keighley
John Bradley
Winter Still Life with Candle
Mary Fedden
Portrait Of Christian Brinton
Horace Pippin