plate no. 6677
Golgotha
Franz Stuck, 1917
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in limited palette color mixing and creating atmospheric perspective with muted tones. It also provides practice in depicting figures in dramatic lighting and simplified forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the crosses and figures.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted brown/gray.
- step 03
Block in the dark shapes of the figures and crosses, gradually building up layers of darker tones.
- step 04
Begin adding highlights to the figures, focusing on the light source from above.
- step 05
Define the details of the figures and crosses, paying attention to the texture and form.
- step 06
Add the small buildings in the background with a light, hazy effect.
- step 07
Paint the eclipse in the upper left corner with a dark circle and a thin red outline.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing black and white with small amounts of umber and sienna. Use yellow ochre sparingly to add warmth to the highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →overworking the details
- →using too much color
- →creating harsh lines
- →failing to establish a strong value structure
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the dry brushing effect. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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