plate no. 7109

Eta is Bathing

Vilmos Aba-Novak, 1924

oil, canvasExpressionismnude painting (nu)figurenudebowlwaterdark backgroundbathing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, particularly rendering form with light and shadow, and using expressive brushwork to create texture and mood. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth in a dark environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic figure pose and the placement of the bowl and stand, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin layer of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the figure using a limited palette of warm and cool tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the face, hands, and feet, refining the contours and adding highlights.
step 06
Paint the bowl and stand, using short, expressive brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · titanium white

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and alizarin crimson with varying amounts of white. Use ultramarine blue and viridian green to create cool shadows and highlights.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the light and shadow areas.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Using too much detail, which can detract from the overall expressive quality of the painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, viridian green, titanium white)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags