plate no. 0401

Calvary

oil, woodNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingcrucifixionfigureslandscapeskytreessoldiers

advanced study

Recreating this painting will develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures and mastering atmospheric perspective to create depth. Students will also learn to mix realistic skin tones and render drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of the main figures and crosses.
step 02
Block in the background landscape, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective, with distant elements appearing lighter and less detailed.
step 03
Roughly sketch the figures, focusing on their poses and proportions.
step 04
Start adding details to the figures in the foreground, working from general shapes to specific features.
step 05
Develop the drapery, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 06
Refine the skin tones, using layers of glazes to achieve realistic color variations.
step 07
Add details to the soldiers and other figures in the middle ground.
step 08
Finish by adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white and blue to background colors.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early without establishing the overall composition.
→Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle color variations.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, viridian green, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife