plate no. 2793

Sympathy

Remedios Varo, 1955

oil, masoniteSurrealismsymbolic paintingfigurecattableroominteriorsurreal

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in glazing techniques to achieve subtle color variations and in creating a surreal atmosphere through careful composition and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, cat, and table.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the background, figure, cat, and table with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors, starting with the darkest areas and gradually adding highlights.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones and the red fabric.
step 05
Add details to the figure's face, hair, and clothing.
step 06
Refine the details of the cat, including its fur and facial features.
step 07
Paint the radiating lines and starbursts with a fine brush.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red · ochre · grey · green

secondary · yellow · white

Achieve the skin tones by mixing ochre, red, and white, with small amounts of green or blue for shadows. The red fabric is created by layering different shades of red and adding subtle highlights with white.

techniques