plate no. 7401

The Birds Flew to the South

Ivan Marchuk, 2007

oilMagic Realismlandscapehousetreeslandscapeladderfoliagesky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create texture and rendering complex details with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in observing and translating subtle color variations in natural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes of the house, trees, and ground.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, house walls, roof, and ground using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up texture on the ground with short, directional brushstrokes using various shades of brown and ochre.
step 04
Add details to the house, focusing on the wood grain, window, and ladder, using a small brush.
step 05
Create the foliage and tree branches using a dry brush technique and layering different shades of brown, gray, and hints of green.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors with white and small amounts of Payne's Gray. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to add warmth to the browns.

techniques