plate no. 4311

Mater Dolorosa

oilTenebrismreligious paintingfigurereligiousportraithandsdraperytears

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create dramatic lighting effects. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the overall proportions.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the figure and drapery.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 05
Pay close attention to the highlights and shadows on the face and hands to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Develop the drapery, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 07
Add the details, such as the tears and the subtle variations in color.
step 08
Refine the edges and blend the transitions between light and shadow.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use ivory black thinned with medium for the background. Add a touch of cadmium red light to the skin tones for warmth.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the light and shadow areas.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Using too many colors, resulting in a muddy palette.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags