plate no. 1117
Boy Lighting a Pipe
Hendrick Terbrugghen, 1623
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create form using dramatic light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and fabric folds.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a mid-tone brown.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and key objects.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow using thin washes of color.
- step 04
Gradually build up the darker areas, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
- step 05
Start refining the details of the face, hands, and clothing, using smaller brushes.
- step 06
Carefully render the candle flame and the light it casts, using highlights to create a sense of luminosity.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust the overall balance of light and shadow.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and red by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and cadmium red. Use titanium white to create highlights and lighten skin tones. Add small amounts of ivory black to darken shadows.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Over-blending and losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the skin tones too flat or lifeless.
- →Not paying enough attention to the details of the light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
A pre-toned canvas will help to establish the overall mood and value range of the painting. Use high-quality oil paints for best results.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
St. Simon
Georges de la Tour
St. Bartholomew
Jusepe de Ribera
Heraclitus
Hendrick Terbrugghen
The Calling of St. Matthew
Hendrick Terbrugghen
The Triangle Player
Georges de la Tour
Glowers in a sculpted vase on a stone plinth
Mario Nuzzi
St. Jerome
Jusepe de Ribera
A Mother Entrusting Her Sons to Christ
Mattia Preti