plate no. 5957
Study of a cat
Suzanne Valadon, 1918
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting form with visible brushstrokes and understanding color temperature variations within a limited palette. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject with simplified shapes and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the cat, chair, and background.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Start building up layers of paint, using thicker brushstrokes to define the forms.
- step 04
Pay attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the fur and fabric.
- step 05
Mix subtle variations of color to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Add details such as the cat's eyes and stripes, using smaller brushes.
- step 07
Refine the edges and shapes, adjusting the values as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green
Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the browns and viridian green to cool them down.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using too much detail and creating a stiff, unnatural look.
- →Failing to capture the correct values, resulting in a flat, lifeless image.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes, which can flatten the form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for better paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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