plate no. 1139

Le soir du 8 decembre

Felix Labisse, 1963

oilSurrealismnude painting (nu)figurenudelandscapemountainwatersky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve a limited palette and practice smooth blending techniques for skin tones. It also provides an opportunity to study simplified landscape elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, mountain, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the blue skin, the dark mountain, and the sky.
step 03
Mix varying shades of blue for the figure, creating subtle highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes and lips.
step 05
Refine the background landscape, adding hints of mountains and water.
step 06
Paint the hair, using thin, flowing lines.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and background.
step 08
Let it dry and add a varnish for protection

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Black

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Umber

Mix Prussian Blue and Titanium White for the skin tones, adding small amounts of black for shadows and Yellow Ochre for the beach. Use black and Prussian Blue for the mountain.

techniques

·Color mixing
·Blending
·Layering
·Glazing
·Dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Using too much black, making the painting look muddy.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Titanium White, Black, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·Medium gloss
·Retarder medium
·Easel

Using a limited palette will help create a cohesive and harmonious painting. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.

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