plate no. 2810

Nude in Blue Slip

Émilie Charmy, 1916

oilExpressionismnude painting (nu)figurenudeblue slipred stockingschairportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing the essence of a figure with simplified forms. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, skin, blue slip, and stockings.
step 03
Start adding darker values to define the shadows and contours of the figure.
step 04
Mix and apply skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color temperature.
step 05
Define the details of the blue slip and red ribbon, adding highlights and shadows.
step 06
Refine the background, adding depth and atmosphere with loose brushstrokes.
step 07
Add final details to the face and hair, capturing the expression and character of the subject.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, and value.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by combining white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the blue slip by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of burnt umber for shadows. Use cadmium red for the stockings and ribbon, adding white to lighten the color.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·implied form

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details and neglecting the overall composition.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tones.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags