plate no. 0729
The Entire City
Max Ernst, 1935
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic horizon line and the outline of the city structure.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of green and yellow.
- step 03
Establish the dark underpainting for the city and foreground.
- step 04
Begin layering browns, ochres, and reds to build up the city's form and texture.
- step 05
Add details to the architecture, focusing on the repetitive patterns.
- step 06
Paint the foreground vegetation with varying shades of green, adding highlights to the leaves.
- step 07
Introduce the white flowers, paying attention to their delicate forms.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the overall color balance.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green
secondary · titanium white · raw sienna · cadmium red
Achieve the sky color by mixing green and yellow ochre with white. Use burnt umber and raw sienna for the city, adding touches of red for warmth. Mix greens with yellow and blue for the vegetation.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the city, losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Creating too much contrast, making the painting appear harsh.
- →Neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky and vegetation.
- →Failing to establish a strong underpainting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth of color.
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