plate no. 2673
Mary with child
Albrecht Altdorfer, 1531
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict drapery and folds.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of green.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones of the figures, using a limited palette.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create depth and form.
- step 05
Paint the drapery, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Add details to the hair and facial features.
- step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
- step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use viridian green mixed with yellow ochre and white for the background.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·drapery study
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Not paying enough attention to the light and shadow.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve flow.
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