plate no. 1154

Composition

oilCubismnude painting (nu)figureabstractgeometric shapesnudespherebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes and practice color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations. It also provides practice in creating smooth gradients and hard edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes and the figure's pose using a pencil.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: orange, blue, grey, and the figure's skin tone.
step 03
Begin refining the shapes and edges of the figure and the geometric forms.
step 04
Mix and apply the subtle gradients within the sphere and the background areas.
step 05
Add the darker shadows and highlights to define the forms further.
step 06
Pay close attention to the transitions between colors and shapes.
step 07
Refine the edges and details to match the original painting.
step 08
Let dry and add a varnish layer for protection and to enhance colors (optional).

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · burnt umber

Mix white with small amounts of black and blue to achieve the grey tones. Mix red and yellow for the orange. Use white to lighten the blue and create the lighter shades. Yellow ochre can be used as a base for the figure's skin tone, and then mixed with red and white to create variations.

techniques