plate no. 0424
Mater Dolorosa
Hans Memling, 1480
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and drapery folds. It also provides practice in achieving smooth gradations and subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare the canvas with a neutral ground.
- step 02
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, habit, background.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value.
- step 05
Develop the drapery of the habit, focusing on the light and shadow patterns to create form.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add the subtle halo with thin gold paint or a yellow ochre glaze.
- step 08
Adjust the values and details throughout the painting to create a cohesive and realistic image.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and small amounts of umber and black. The habit is primarily white with subtle gray shadows created by mixing white with black and a touch of umber.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, leading to a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow in the drapery.
- →Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much paint, obscuring the details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a pre-primed canvas to save time.
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