plate no. 5290

Anskar Converting the Vikings to Christianity, 826 AD

oil, canvasRealismhistory paintingfigureslandscapehistoricalreligioncrowdsky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, portraiture, and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background landscape and sky.
step 03
Roughly sketch the figures, paying attention to proportions and poses.
step 04
Begin layering in the base colors for the clothing and skin tones.
step 05
Develop the light and shadow on the figures to create volume and depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the faces, clothing, and landscape.
step 07
Add highlights and finishing touches to enhance the realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix muted earth tones by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Use glazes of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·figure drawing
·portraiture
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of figures
→Overly bright or saturated colors
→Lack of depth and atmosphere
→Inconsistent light source

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 24x36
·Oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, ivory black, titanium white, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, viridian)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags