plate no. 3293

Olympias

Felix Labisse, 1971

oilSurrealismnude painting (nu)figureportraitsnakedraperyhairjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering smooth gradients. It also provides practice in depicting textures like hair and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the pose and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with dark blues and blacks, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Apply a base layer of light blue to the figure's skin, establishing the overall tone.
step 04
Mix and apply highlights and shadows to the skin, defining the form and creating volume.
step 05
Paint the hair with dark blacks and blues, adding subtle highlights to create texture.
step 06
Render the snake with shades of green, paying attention to the details of its scales and form.
step 07
Add the pink drapery, blending the edges to create a soft, flowing effect.
step 08
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, lips, and jewelry.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · black · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix varying shades of blue with white and black to achieve the skin tones. Use viridian green and white to create the snake's color. Mix red and white for the pink drapery.

techniques