plate no. 4391

The Conjurer

Leonora Carrington, 1960

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingfiguresurrealsymbolicanimalgeometric shapesstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones, and in creating a sense of depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also encourages exploration of surrealist imagery and symbolic representation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the gray background, orange wall, and the figure's robe.
step 03
Begin refining the figure's face and clothing, paying attention to the split color scheme and subtle shading.
step 04
Paint the table and the objects on it, including the eggs, the animal image, and the glass-like object.
step 05
Add the geometric shapes in the background, focusing on accurate lines and value contrasts.
step 06
Refine the details of the insect-like creature held by the figure.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · gray · orange · white · black

secondary · light blue · brown · ivory

Achieve the various shades of gray by mixing black and white with small amounts of other colors like burnt umber or blue. Mute the orange by adding a touch of gray or brown.

techniques