plate no. 7105
Georg Spalatin
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1509
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering realistic fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a smooth, blended finish.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, even tone.
- step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 05
Paint the hair, focusing on the overall shape and volume before adding individual strands.
- step 06
Render the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 07
Add details such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, refining the likeness.
- step 08
Add the text in the upper corners with a fine brush.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending white with small amounts of raw umber, burnt sienna, and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas. For the hair, mix burnt sienna with yellow ochre and a touch of red.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Making the hair look flat and lifeless.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint and reduce brushstrokes.
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