plate no. 4814

Angel (from Altar of Philip the Bold)

wood, temperaInternational Gothicreligious paintingangelwingsscrollfigurereligiousrobe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering drapery folds and creating a sense of depth through subtle color variations. It also provides practice in depicting human anatomy and facial features in a stylized manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the angel, including the body, wings, and scroll.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of color to the background, mimicking the aged texture.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the robe (blue), tunic (yellow), and wings (red/brown).
step 04
Begin to define the folds and shadows in the drapery using darker shades of blue and yellow.
step 05
Add details to the wings, paying attention to the individual feathers and their color variations.
step 06
Refine the facial features and hair, focusing on subtle shading and highlights.
step 07
Paint the scroll, adding highlights and shadows to give it a three-dimensional appearance.
step 08
Add the small decorative details along the edges of the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · ivory black · titanium white · red

Achieve the aged background by mixing ochre, umber, and white. Create subtle variations in the robe by mixing blue with small amounts of black and white. The wings are a mix of red and burnt sienna, with highlights of yellow.

techniques

·glazing
·dry brushing
·blending
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint, which can obscure the subtle color variations.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the drapery.
→Ignoring the aged texture of the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic gesso
·acrylic paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, red)
·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
·flat brush (size 6)
·palette
·water
·paper towels

optional

·palette knife
·retarder medium
·varnish

Using a canvas with a slightly rough texture can help to replicate the aged appearance of the original painting. Consider using a retarder medium to slow the drying time of the acrylics, allowing for more blending.

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