plate no. 3755
Woman in Bathtub
Alex Colville, 1973
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in realistic figure painting, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering reflections and the effects of water on the figure.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a detailed line drawing of the composition, paying close attention to proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background tiles and bathtub.
- step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, using thin washes of color and building up the values gradually.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the highlights and shadows on the figure to create a sense of depth and form.
- step 05
Render the water, focusing on the reflections and distortions it creates.
- step 06
Paint the details of the robe and other elements in the background.
- step 07
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The water is created with varying shades of blue and green, mixed with white to create transparency.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·color layering
- ·blending
- ·rendering reflections
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
- →Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
- →Failure to capture the subtle reflections in the water.
- →Neglecting the details in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) is recommended for beginners.
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