plate no. 7930

Tiger and Arc De Triomphe

Christopher Wood, 1930

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)animal paintingtigerleopardarc de triomphetreesskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified form rendering and layering colors to create depth and texture. It also provides practice in painting animals with basic anatomical understanding.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the Arc de Triomphe, the animals, and the landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage using a dark green or brown.
step 04
Paint the Arc de Triomphe with a mix of browns and creams, defining its structure.
step 05
Begin layering the base colors for the tiger and leopard, focusing on their overall forms.
step 06
Add the stripes and spots to the animals, paying attention to their placement and shape.
step 07
Refine the details of the landscape, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the animals and the Arc de Triomphe.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber for the sky. Use umber and ochre for the architecture. Mix umber, ochre, and black for the tiger's stripes and the leopard's spots.

techniques