plate no. 4959
Cook in front of the Stove
Pieter Aertsen, 1559
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as understanding complex compositions with multiple elements.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
- step 02
Block in the background and establish the overall value structure.
- step 03
Begin painting the figure, focusing on accurate proportions and skin tones.
- step 04
Add details to the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, rendering the folds and textures.
- step 06
Paint the still life elements, focusing on accurate shapes and colors.
- step 07
Add details to the stove and other background elements.
- step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting values and adding final details.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian · raw sienna
Mix skin tones using a combination of yellow ochre, cadmium red, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·underpainting
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the still life elements.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the underpainting process.
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