plate no. 6232

The Temptations of Saint Anthony

Diego Rivera, 1947

oil, canvasSurrealismallegorical paintingvegetablesrootsallegoryfiguresfoliagesurreal

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle gradations and understanding complex compositions with multiple focal points. Students will also learn to create a sense of depth through layering and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the root vegetables, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of browns and greens.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values to define the forms of the vegetables and create shadows.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones and highlights, blending colors to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Add details to the root vegetables, such as the small roots, leaves, and textures.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture to create depth.
step 07
Pay attention to the lighting and shadows to create a sense of realism and drama.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · red · brown · yellow · green

secondary · ochre · umber · cream

Achieve the root vegetable colors by mixing reds, browns, and yellows, adding white to create lighter shades. Use greens and browns for the foliage and background, mixing in yellows and ochres for highlights.

techniques