plate no. 7025
Circe, The Temptress
Charles Hermans, 1881
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a cohesive color scheme and depicting a narrative scene.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the table, paying attention to proportions and composition.
- step 02
Block in the background with a base layer of red, varying the tone slightly.
- step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the figures, starting with the woman's dress and skin tones.
- step 04
Develop the details of the woman's face, hair, and dress, focusing on accurate color and value relationships.
- step 05
Paint the man's figure, paying attention to the subtle shadows and highlights.
- step 06
Add the details of the table, flowers, and any other objects in the scene.
- step 07
Refine the brushwork and add final details to create texture and depth.
- step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · red ochre · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of red ochre with white and umber to create the skin tones and dress color. Use black and umber for the man's clothing and hair. Mix the reds for the flowers.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·figure drawing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating a flat, lifeless color palette.
- →Failing to capture the expression and mood of the scene.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (red ochre, titanium white, ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to speed up drying time.
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