plate no. 4122

After the bath

Suzanne Valadon, 1908

pastel, paperPost-Impressionismnude painting (nu)figurenudeinteriorchairwindowscreen

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly proportion and gesture, as well as understanding how to use color to create form and depth. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and major elements.
step 02
Establish the basic shapes of the figure, paying attention to proportions and gesture.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the skin tones, the blue chair, the white cloth, the green screen, and the background.
step 04
Begin to refine the figure's form by adding shadows and highlights, using a combination of blending and hatching.
step 05
Develop the details of the chair and background, using similar techniques to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add the details of the face and hair, keeping the strokes loose and expressive.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · flesh tones (ochre, white, red) · Prussian blue · white

secondary · green · yellow ochre · raw umber

Achieve the skin tones by mixing ochre, white, and a touch of red. The blue is used pure and mixed with white for highlights. The green is a mix of yellow and blue, with touches of orange.

techniques