plate no. 5209

Cotyo, Perfica, Volupie

Felix Labisse, 1963

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingfiguresdraperyskynudesportraitssurreal

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in smooth blending, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering drapery with subtle shading. It also requires careful observation of anatomical forms and proportions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures, paying attention to their poses and relative positions.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of blue and grey, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones for each figure, using a light base color and gradually building up shadows and highlights.
step 04
Carefully blend the skin tones to create smooth transitions and realistic forms.
step 05
Paint the drapery, paying attention to the folds and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using fine brushes and subtle color variations.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a harmonious and balanced image.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Skin tones are achieved by mixing titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red light, and a touch of yellow ochre. Blues for the sky are created by mixing ultramarine blue with white. The drapery colors are variations of red, blue and white.

techniques