plate no. 6726

Union

Kazimir Malevich, 1930

oilNeoclassicismgenre paintingfiguresflagcloudsfieldcannonsky

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in rendering figures in a landscape and understanding atmospheric perspective. Students will develop skills in color mixing to create muted tones and depicting depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, field, and the general tones of the figures.
step 03
Start with the background, establishing the atmospheric perspective by using lighter and cooler colors for distant elements.
step 04
Develop the figures, paying attention to their proportions and the subtle variations in skin tones and clothing.
step 05
Add details to the flag and the cannon, using darker values to create contrast and definition.
step 06
Refine the foreground, adding texture to the field and adjusting the values to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add highlights to the figures and the flag to create a focal point.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix muted greens for the field by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt sienna. Create skin tones by mixing titanium white, burnt sienna, and a small amount of cadmium red. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the darker tones for the cannon and shadows.

techniques