plate no. 6906
Madonna with the Parrots
Hans Baldung, 1533
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and creating subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and adding details like jewelry and feathers.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the overall proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and drapery.
- step 03
Begin to develop the skin tones, layering light and shadow to create form.
- step 04
Add details to the faces, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Paint the parrots, focusing on their feathers and distinctive shapes.
- step 06
Refine the drapery, adding folds and highlights to create depth.
- step 07
Add the jewelry and other small details.
- step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · viridian · ultramarine blue
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The dark drapery is a mix of ivory black and burnt umber. Greens are created by mixing yellow and blue.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·damar varnish
- ·medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will be easier to blend on.
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