plate no. 3213

The Princess and the Pea

Kit Williams, 1979

oilSurrealismillustrationprincessbedpeafurnitureinteriorfoliage

experienced study

Recreating this painting would develop skills in rendering complex patterns and textures, as well as creating a sense of depth through layering and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic structure of the bed frame and the figure's pose.
step 02
Lightly map out the placement of the mattresses and other objects.
step 03
Begin painting the background foliage with broad strokes, establishing the dark and light areas.
step 04
Start layering the mattresses, paying close attention to the patterns and folds in each one.
step 05
Paint the figure, focusing on the subtle highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the furniture and other objects on the bottom shelf.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to the bed frame.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · red · brown · blue · green

secondary · gold · white · peach · grey

Achieve the various fabric patterns by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use glazes to create depth and subtle color variations.

techniques