plate no. 2935

Doubting Thomas

oil, canvasRomanticismreligious paintingfiguresreligious sceneinteriorhalomenclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery painting, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering skin tones and subtle light variations on fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Start with the background and work forward, gradually adding detail and refining the forms.
step 04
Focus on accurately capturing the folds and shadows in the drapery.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the play of light on the figures' faces.
step 06
Develop the floor tiles with perspective and varying tones to create depth.
step 07
Add the halo and refine the details of the faces.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · viridian · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth colors with white and small amounts of red, green, or yellow. Use glazes of diluted color to create depth and luminosity.

techniques