apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·Messenger
Messenger by Gerard Terborch

plate no. 6502

Messenger

Gerard Terborch

oil, canvasBaroquegenre paintingfiguresinteriordresscarpetpaintingreading
experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fabric textures, particularly the sheen of the satin dress, and in capturing subtle variations in light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions and composition.

  2. step 02

    Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the background and figures with thin washes.

  3. step 03

    Begin layering in the local colors of the walls, floor, and furniture, gradually building up the tones.

  4. step 04

    Focus on the dress, using thin layers of white and cream to capture the highlights and shadows, creating the illusion of satin.

  5. step 05

    Paint the red carpet, paying attention to the intricate patterns and folds.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing, adding subtle highlights and shadows.

  7. step 07

    Add the paintings on the wall, keeping them dark and muted.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix shades of white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the subtle variations in the dress. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create the dark background and shadows.

techniques

  • ·glazing
  • ·scumbling
  • ·chiaroscuro
  • ·layering
  • ·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the details too early in the process.
  • →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
  • →Making the dress too bright and losing the subtle variations in tone.
  • →Getting lost in the details of the carpet pattern.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas 18x24
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·ivory black oil paint
  • ·burnt umber oil paint
  • ·cadmium red oil paint
  • ·yellow ochre oil paint
  • ·raw sienna oil paint
  • ·linseed oil

optional

  • ·palette knife
  • ·retouch varnish
  • ·medium

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base value.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

oil painting for beginners →chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
chat about this artwork

in this vein

related artworks

Girl with a Straw Hat

Girl with a Straw Hat

Judith Leyster

Gezicht Op De Laurenskerk Gezien Vanuit Noordoosten

Gezicht Op De Laurenskerk Gezien Vanuit Noordoosten

Abraham Storck

Bathsheba Bathing

Bathsheba Bathing

Francesco Solimena

Repentant Peter

Repentant Peter

Guido Reni

Itinerant Musicians

Itinerant Musicians

Jacob Ochtervelt

Marie Christine

Marie Christine

Marcello Bacciarelli

Santa Cecilia E Due Angeli

Santa Cecilia E Due Angeli

Giulio Cesare Procaccini

Scene from the Life of Saint Benedict

Scene from the Life of Saint Benedict

Philippe de Champaigne