plate no. 5620

Three destinations

Remedios Varo, 1956

oil, masoniteSurrealismsymbolic paintingbuildingsfiguresarchitecturelightstairsnight

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering architectural forms with subtle color variations and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in painting figures within complex environments.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic architectural structure and the placement of the figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 03
Begin layering in the base colors for the buildings and figures, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Develop the details of the brickwork and architectural elements, using small brushes and subtle color variations.
step 05
Refine the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow on their forms and clothing.
step 06
Add the glowing light effects and the connecting lines between the figures, using thin glazes of color.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · sap green

Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red for the brickwork and ivory black to darken shadows. Mix yellow ochre and sap green for the figures' clothing.

techniques