plate no. 7080
Death of Don Miguel de Mahara
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict dramatic lighting and create a sense of depth using value and color temperature. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a stylized manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest areas to define the value structure.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall color harmony.
- step 04
Develop the details of the architecture, figures, and candles.
- step 05
Refine the lighting effects, blending and layering colors to create the dramatic light beam.
- step 06
Add details to the figures, focusing on their gestures and clothing.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and drama.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium yellow light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow light for the candle light. Add ultramarine blue to create cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the effects of light and shadow on the forms.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (small, medium, large)
- ·flat brushes (medium)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or odorless thinner (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retarder medium
Use a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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