plate no. 8957

The Red Alert

Morteza Katouzian, 1980

oil, canvasSurrealismsymbolic paintingchildrencloudsskyfiguredraperysurreal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and facial expressions, as well as creating atmospheric perspective and cloud formations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the main cloud shapes.
step 02
Establish the background sky with a gradient from dark at the top to lighter near the horizon.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the orange clouds, paying attention to their varying sizes and positions.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the clouds, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 05
Start painting the figures, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomical details.
step 06
Develop the skin tones using layering and blending techniques, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 07
Add details to the drapery, capturing the folds and shadows.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adding final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix burnt sienna and cadmium red for the orange clouds. Use ivory black and titanium white to create the grayscale tones for the figures and background. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt sienna to warm up the grayscale tones.

techniques