plate no. 0922
Christ blesses Bartholomew
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and using broken color to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and subtle gradations of light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and buildings.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth.
- step 04
Begin layering colors, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
- step 05
Add details to the figures, such as facial features and clothing folds.
- step 06
Develop the background elements, including the trees and buildings, using broken color.
- step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the halo and the texture of the grass.
color palette
primary · red ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green
Mix various shades of gray and blue for the buildings and sky. Use red ochre and burnt umber to create the robe, and mix greens with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue for the grass.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending colors, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Neglecting the importance of value contrast.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·red ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes sizes 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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