Madonna of the Apple

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of blue by adding black and white to ultramarine. Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, white, and a touch of red or yellow. Create the dark background by mixing black with a touch of blue or brown.

techniques

• ·glazing
• ·chiaroscuro
• ·portraiture
• ·drapery rendering
• ·blending

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or unnatural appearance.
• →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the drapery, leading to a lack of depth.
• →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong, which can detract from the overall realism.
• →Failing to create a strong sense of light and shadow, making the painting appear flat.