plate no. 8976

Odalisque

Ion Theodorescu-Sion, 1938

oilPost-Impressionismnude painting (nu)figurenudeportraitdraperyheadscarfchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, color mixing for skin tones, and creating soft, blended transitions. It's a good exercise in capturing form with subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic figure proportions and pose, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the background colors with broad strokes, blending the dark browns and greens.
step 03
Block in the main areas of skin tone with a base color mixture.
step 04
Begin layering in highlights and shadows on the figure, focusing on the planes of the body.
step 05
Add details to the face, hair, and headscarf, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the drapery with soft, blended strokes to suggest folds and textures.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and form.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and small amounts of cadmium red. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue to create the darker greens in the background.

techniques