plate no. 5615
Madonna and Child (Maria Lactans)
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering skin tones and drapery folds, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and background elements, paying attention to proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the dark background, the Madonna's robe, the child's skin and clothing, and the landscape.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using thin layers of paint and subtle blending to create a smooth, realistic effect.
- step 04
Add details to the drapery, using darker and lighter values to create the illusion of folds and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the background landscape, gradually adding details and atmospheric perspective to create depth.
- step 06
Refine the details of the figures, such as the eyes, mouth, and hands.
- step 07
Add the halo and any other small details.
- step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · titanium white · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones with white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for the dark background and shadows. Create the landscape colors by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of blue.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to create enough contrast in the drapery, making it look flat.
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective in the background, causing it to appear too sharp and detailed.
- →Getting proportions wrong in the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes sizes 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to start with a mid-value ground.
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