plate no. 8553

The Two Bathers

Suzanne Valadon, 1923

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismnude painting (nu)figuresnudesinteriorfabrichaircarpet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, color mixing for skin tones, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Mix skin tones using a limited palette of yellows, reds, and blues, adding white for highlights and darker tones for shadows.
step 04
Apply paint with visible brushstrokes, following the contours of the forms.
step 05
Define the details of the faces and hands, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add the patterns and textures of the fabric and carpet, simplifying the details.
step 07
Refine the edges and shapes, adjusting the colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for darker shadows. Mix viridian green and yellow ochre for the background fabric.

techniques

·figure drawing
·color mixing
·expressive brushwork
·simplification of forms
·contour drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
→Ignoring the overall value structure.
→Failing to capture the proportions of the figures.
→Not using enough paint to create visible brushstrokes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits

optional

·medium gloss
·painting easel
·rags

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) to allow for sufficient detail. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.

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