plate no. 8337

Omphale

Byam Shaw, 1914

watercolorRomanticismnude painting (nu)figurenudefurwoodmythologyornaments

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and understanding light and shadow on the human form. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fur and wood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on accurate proportions and the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, paying attention to the circular patterns.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes of the figure, fur, and wood with diluted washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of glazing, using subtle color variations to create depth and form.
step 05
Develop the textures of the fur and wood using dry brush techniques and layering.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, hands, and ornaments.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the color balance and overall harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows.

techniques