plate no. 8180

The Family

Samuel Bak, 1974

oilSurrealismportraitfiguresportraitscrowdsurrealdystopianmasks

advanced study

Recreating this painting would develop skills in portraiture, complex composition, and creating a surreal atmosphere through color and texture. Students will also learn how to effectively blend colors to create subtle value changes and model forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a detailed sketch, mapping out the placement and scale of the figures and objects.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark reds and browns, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes and forms of the figures with mid-tone values, focusing on accurate proportions.
step 04
Gradually build up the values, adding highlights and shadows to define the forms and create depth.
step 05
Pay close attention to the details of the faces, capturing the expressions and individual characteristics.
step 06
Add textures and details to the clothing and objects, using dry brush techniques and subtle color variations.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figures, blending and softening where necessary.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism and depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing burnt umber and raw sienna with white and small amounts of black. Use red and yellow ochre sparingly to add warmth. Add ultramarine blue to darken and cool the browns.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·dry brushing
·value studies
·complex composition

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early without establishing the overall composition.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions and anatomy of the figures.
→Overworking the colors and losing the subtle value changes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.