plate no. 7792

An Old Woman Dozing over a Book

oilBaroquegenre paintingfigurebookold womantablekeysinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create a focal point using light. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a mid-tone brown.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the book, and the table.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas with a dark brown or black.
step 04
Establish the main light source and begin layering in lighter tones on the figure and book.
step 05
Focus on the face, building up the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Refine the details of the book, including the pages and binding.
step 07
Add the keys and other background elements, keeping them less detailed than the focal point.
step 08
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and deepen the shadows.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red to create the warm tones in the skin and table.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·portraiture
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Not establishing a strong value structure
→Using colors that are too saturated
→Ignoring the importance of soft edges

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints: burnt umber, raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags