plate no. 8472

The Tunnel

Paul Delvaux, 1978

oil, canvasSurrealismgenre paintingfiguresarchitecturetunneltrainmirrorstairs

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures, architectural perspective, and creating a surreal atmosphere through color and composition. It also provides practice in painting reflective surfaces and intricate details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the tunnel and the placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, buildings, and the floor.
step 03
Begin adding details to the architecture, including the stairs, tunnel entrance, and train.
step 04
Paint the figures, paying attention to their proportions and the folds of their clothing.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the mirror and the reflection.
step 07
Add final touches to the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it and enhance its colors.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of black. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red to create the warm tones in the figures' skin and clothing.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·linear perspective
·figure drawing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective can ruin the illusion of depth.
→Overworking the details can make the painting look cluttered.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures can detract from the overall composition.
→Failing to create a sense of atmosphere can make the painting look flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (24x36 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags