plate no. 1158

Time Traveller

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingseaskyarchitecturefiguresrockscliff

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle gradations and in creating depth through atmospheric perspective. Students can also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the horizon line and the relative sizes of the elements.
step 02
Block in the sky and sea with broad strokes, establishing the overall color and value.
step 03
Paint the large architectural form, focusing on the subtle color variations and the direction of light.
step 04
Add the cliff and foreground rocks, building up texture and detail with layers of paint.
step 05
Paint the figures on the cliff, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouette.
step 06
Refine the details of the architectural form, including the windows.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture of the objects.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · purple · yellow ochre

Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky and sea, adding small amounts of raw umber to darken the blue. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the earth tones, mixing with white to create lighter values.

techniques