plate no. 7964

Valley of the Moon

Remedios Varo, 1950

oilSurrealismlandscapemountainsmoondeerbirdsfoliagelandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as practice painting detailed botanical elements and stylized animal forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the mountains, moon, deer, and birds.
step 02
Block in the background sky with a base layer of red and brown hues.
step 03
Establish the mountain shapes with varying shades of brown and gray, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the moon with a light, neutral color, creating a soft glow.
step 05
Begin adding the foliage, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 06
Paint the deer and birds with light colors, paying attention to their anatomy and proportions.
step 07
Refine the details of the foliage, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of red. Use thin glazes to build up color depth.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall harmony of the composition.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the painting's muted atmosphere.
→Neglecting the subtle variations in value and color, which can make the painting appear flat.
→Not establishing a clear focal point, which can make the composition feel disorganized.