plate no. 8122
Christ of the Cornfield "and He Said Unto Them, the Sabbath was Made for Man,and Not Man for the Sabbath." Mark, Ii, 27.
Thomas Francis Dicksee, 1883
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in portraiture, drapery, and subtle color blending. Students can learn to create realistic skin tones and the illusion of light and shadow on fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the background sky with diluted blues and whites, creating a soft gradient.
- step 03
Establish the main shapes of the robe with light washes of off-white and beige.
- step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of thin glazes, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle details.
- step 06
Add details to the robe, defining folds and creases with darker values.
- step 07
Paint the wheat stalks, using small brushes to create texture and detail.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · ivory black
Mix various shades of off-white for the robe by adding small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to titanium white. Achieve skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Creating harsh lines in the drapery, rather than soft folds.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations in the robe and background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·assorted round brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve blending.
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