plate no. 7047

David with the Head of Goliath

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguremaleweapondraperydark backgroundreligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in chiaroscuro and modeling form with light and shadow. It also offers practice in rendering realistic skin tones and drapery folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and the placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin layer of dark brown or black paint.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the figure and drapery using mid-tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, mixing variations of light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Add highlights to the skin, drapery, and weapon to enhance the sense of depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the expression and features.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a dramatic effect.
step 08
Add final details and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Shadows are created by adding raw umber to the skin tone mix. Drapery uses white with small amounts of umber and ochre.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·modeling

common pitfalls

→Over-blending, which can flatten the form.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags