plate no. 0459
Louison and Raminou
Suzanne Valadon, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and texture of an animal.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the woman and cat, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark green base, varying the tone slightly to create depth.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the woman's skin, hair, and dress, using a limited palette.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create the skin tones, focusing on the subtle variations in light and shadow.
- step 05
Paint the cat's fur, using short, directional brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
- step 06
Add details to the woman's face, such as her eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to their placement and expression.
- step 07
Refine the details of the cat, including its eyes, whiskers, and paws.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive and expressive painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · viridian green · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · raw umber
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of cadmium red. Achieve the green dress color by mixing viridian green with ivory black and a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. The cat's fur is a blend of burnt sienna and yellow ochre, with touches of raw umber for shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure and cat.
- →Neglecting subtle value changes, leading to a lack of depth.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·retarder
A medium-textured canvas will help to create a more painterly effect. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.
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