plate no. 8451
Mom and dad's baby
Noè Bordignon, 1880
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering fabrics, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing realistic skin tones and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and composition.
- step 02
Establish the background colors and values, focusing on the overall warmth.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, paying attention to proportions.
- step 04
Start layering in the skin tones, using subtle color variations.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
- step 06
Refine the facial features and expressions, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Add details to the background elements, such as the furniture and decorations.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic look.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the dress color by mixing white with a hint of cerulean blue and yellow ochre. Achieve the darks by mixing burnt umber and ivory black.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·fabric rendering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures
- →Muddying the colors by over-mixing
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tones
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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