plate no. 0594
Golgotha
Lajos Gulacsy, 1912
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting dramatic lighting and creating a sense of depth using value and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing expressive figures with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the crosses and the crowd.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of gray and white, creating a sense of turbulent weather.
- step 03
Establish the ground plane with dark browns and earth tones.
- step 04
Paint the crosses and figures with loose, expressive brushstrokes, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the figures in the foreground, focusing on their expressions and gestures.
- step 06
Refine the sky and ground, adding subtle variations in color and value.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of drama and depth.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Achieve the various earth tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white. Use small amounts of red and yellow to create warmer hues for the figures. Mix black and white for the sky, adding touches of blue or brown for variation.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating a flat, lifeless sky.
- →Failing to establish a strong sense of light and shadow.
- →Making the figures too uniform and lacking in individuality.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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