plate no. 6008

São Mateus Evangelista

oil, canvasNeoclassicismreligious paintingangelfiguretreeslandscapeskyreligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and using loose brushwork to create texture and form. Students will also learn to create depth through atmospheric perspective and value contrast.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and trees.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, foliage, figures, and ground.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up values, focusing on the contrast between light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the figures, paying attention to anatomy and drapery.
step 05
Refine the foliage, using broken brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and volume.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create atmospheric effects.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and green by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix cadmium red light with white and raw umber for the figure's skin tones.

techniques

·Impasto
·Scumbling
·Glazing
·Broken color
·Dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Not creating enough depth in the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Turpentine or mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags