plate no. 8315
Madonna of the Carnation
Bernardino Luini, 1515
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, blending skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and creating a focal point.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main figures and composition.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones for the Madonna and Child, focusing on highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions.
- step 05
Paint the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Add details to the flower and the pot.
- step 07
Paint the halos with thin gold paint.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Achieve the blue-green of the drapery by mixing ultramarine blue with a touch of yellow and white. Use thin glazes of burnt umber to create depth in the shadows.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery study
common pitfalls
- →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Incorrectly proportioning the figures.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to make it easier to judge values.
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