plate no. 7321
Cruficixion
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery rendering, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also offers practice in color mixing to achieve the muted tones characteristic of the International Gothic style.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the proportions of the figures and the placement of the cross.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the figures' robes, and the flesh tones.
- step 03
Begin to refine the figures, adding details to the faces and hands.
- step 04
Develop the drapery, using light and shadow to create a sense of volume.
- step 05
Add the details of the cross and the halos.
- step 06
Refine the background and add any final details.
- step 07
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
color palette
primary · red ochre · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · gold · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of black. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and luminosity.
techniques
- ·figure drawing
- ·drapery rendering
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·red ochre acrylic paint
- ·titanium white acrylic paint
- ·raw umber acrylic paint
- ·small round brushes
- ·medium flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Acrylic paint can be used to mimic the look of tempera.
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