plate no. 3744

The Bath

Rudolf Bér, 1973

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresbathingwaterlandscapetreesabstract

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and expressive image. Students will also learn to create depth and form through color temperature and value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and major shapes.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the darkest values.
step 03
Define the shapes of the figures with bold brushstrokes, using a limited palette of blues, browns, and whites.
step 04
Add highlights and shadows to create form and depth.
step 05
Refine the details of the figures, such as the faces and hands.
step 06
Add texture and interest to the background with broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a cohesive and expressive image.
step 08
Add final details and highlights.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white and small amounts of burnt umber to create cooler and warmer tones. Create skin tones by mixing burnt umber, white, and small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre.

techniques

·broken color
·geometric abstraction
·limited palette
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy or incoherent image.
→Failing to simplify the forms and creating a cluttered composition.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat or uninteresting image.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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