plate no. 4066
Charity
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures with drapery and creating a muted, harmonious color palette. It also provides practice in depicting a scene with emotional depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and landscape elements, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the figures' clothing.
- step 03
Refine the figures' forms, paying attention to the folds of the drapery and the subtle shading.
- step 04
Add details to the landscape, such as the trees, rocks, and foliage.
- step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create depth and atmosphere.
- step 06
Define the facial features and hands, using soft blending techniques.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
- step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · sap green
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to lighten values. Use thin washes of color to build up depth and atmosphere.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·soft blending
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall harmony.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Neglecting the importance of subtle value changes.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use a fine-grain canvas for smoother blending. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
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