plate no. 2694
The Fragrance of a Bath
Ito Shinsui, 1930
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly in capturing subtle curves and proportions, and in creating a sense of depth through layering and color variation.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, rock, and background elements.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of light yellow and orange to the background sky area.
- step 03
Block in the skin tones with a very pale pinkish-beige, paying attention to subtle shadows.
- step 04
Paint the hair with a solid black, adding hints of blue or purple for depth.
- step 05
Define the rock with varying shades of gray and brown, creating texture with short strokes.
- step 06
Add the water with light blues and greens, suggesting movement with horizontal strokes.
- step 07
Paint the maple leaves with shades of red and orange, varying their size and placement.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the figure and background.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black
secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium red · raw umber
Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white with a touch of yellow ochre and a tiny amount of burnt sienna. Mix various grays for the rock by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·color layering
- ·contour drawing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the delicate quality.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Making the rock appear flat and lacking texture.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not muted enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will help with blending.
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