plate no. 9435

The Crystal

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingfigurelandscaperockswatersurrealcrystals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a surreal landscape with depth and texture. It also encourages exploration of 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 and the major landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of blue and purple, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the rocks and the figure with simplified color masses.
step 04
Develop the skin tones of the figure, using subtle variations of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 05
Add details to the rocks and crystals, focusing on texture and form.
step 06
Refine the background, adding details to suggest distant forms.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a cohesive image.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · dioxazine purple

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Create the rock colors by blending blues, purples, browns, and greens. Use white to lighten and create highlights.

techniques