plate no. 2252

Mary Magdalene in the Desert

oil, canvasSymbolismreligious paintingfigurelandscapeskulldesertcliffsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, particularly rendering skin tones and drapery, and in creating atmospheric perspective in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, cliff, and distant landscape.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the cliff and foreground, using a limited palette of grays and browns.
step 04
Begin to define the figure, starting with the overall form and then adding details like the hair and drapery.
step 05
Mix and apply skin tones, using subtle variations to create form and dimension.
step 06
Carefully render the skull, paying attention to its shape and texture.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure, cliff, and landscape.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray for the cliff and foreground. Use white and blue to create the sky and distant landscape. Mix red, yellow, and white to achieve the skin tones.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the landscape, losing the sense of atmospheric perspective.
→Creating muddy skin tones by overmixing colors.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figure.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.