plate no. 3971
Desnudo femenino
Carmen Osés Hidalgo, 1931
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice figure drawing, watercolor washes, and subtle color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones. It will also help with understanding light and shadow on a human form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the figure and background elements (column, wall) with a pencil.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted raw sienna or yellow ochre to the entire figure as a base tone.
- step 03
Begin adding shadows with a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue, focusing on the contours and areas where light is blocked.
- step 04
Develop the hair with a mix of burnt sienna and a touch of red, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
- step 05
Paint the background wall with diluted grays and purples, allowing the colors to blend softly.
- step 06
Add the column using a mix of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue for the blue section, and yellow ochre with a touch of burnt umber for the other.
- step 07
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shadows and highlights.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · red · gray
Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for shadows. Use raw sienna as a base for skin tones. Add a touch of red to the hair color for warmth.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush texture
- ·glazing
- ·figure drawing
- ·subtle color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
- →Incorrect proportions in the figure drawing.
- →Using too much water, causing the paper to buckle.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
- ·water container
- ·palette
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·spray bottle
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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