plate no. 3131

Interieur chapelle Saint Blaise

Jean Cocteau, 1959

oilExpressionismreligious paintingfiguresreligious scenearchitectureinterioraltarsymbolism

some experience helpful

This painting helps students develop skills in simplified figure drawing and creating a fresco-like texture with limited color palettes. Students can practice line work and layering washes for depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of figures and the triangular altar piece.
step 02
Lightly block in the main color areas with diluted washes of ochre and blue.
step 03
Define the figures with thin lines of burnt umber or a similar dark brown.
step 04
Add details to the faces and clothing, using slightly darker shades of the base colors.
step 05
Create the blue background using a wet-on-wet technique to blend the colors softly.
step 06
Paint the triangular altar piece, paying attention to the linework and the placement of the red dots.
step 07
Add final details, such as the wreaths and the objects on the altar.
step 08
Apply a thin glaze of diluted ochre to the entire painting to unify the colors and create an aged effect.

color palette

primary · ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna

Mix ochre with white for lighter skin tones, and add small amounts of raw umber for shadows. Use cerulean blue mixed with white for the background, and add a touch of ochre to warm it up.

techniques