plate no. 5780

Bubbles

Raphael Kirchner, 1916

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)genre paintingfigurebubblebathtubswim capportraitwater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing for skin tones and rendering translucent objects like bubbles. It also provides practice in capturing soft light and shadow transitions.

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 figure's pose and the bubble's placement.
step 02
Establish the background with a light, neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the figure, paying attention to proportions and anatomical landmarks.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the swim cap using a mix of greens and blues, capturing its texture and folds.
step 06
Carefully render the bubble, using light washes of color to create its translucent effect and highlights to show its roundness.
step 07
Add details to the face, hair, and hands, refining the overall likeness.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, and ochre, adding small amounts of red or blue for warmth or coolness. Create the bubble's iridescence by layering thin washes of various colors.

techniques