plate no. 2267
Clytemnestra
Pierre-Narcisse Guerin, 1817
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery rendering, and creating dramatic lighting effects. It also provides practice in building up layers of color to achieve depth and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and setting.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thinned paint.
- step 03
Develop the figures, paying attention to anatomy and drapery folds.
- step 04
Establish the light source and begin to build up the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the details of the faces and hands.
- step 06
Add the background elements and architectural details.
- step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing burnt umber and raw sienna with white. Use small amounts of cadmium red to create the reddish hues in the drapery. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber to create the darker shadows.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·drapery rendering
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of figures
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Failing to establish a strong light source
- →Muddying the colors by overmixing
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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