plate no. 8761

Saint Francis of Assisi

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitangelsainttreelandscapefiguredoves

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in complex poses and creating atmospheric perspective in a landscape. It also provides practice in depicting textures like tree bark and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main color masses, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the background landscape, paying attention to atmospheric perspective by using lighter and cooler colors in the distance.
step 04
Refine the figures, starting with the angel and then the saint, focusing on accurate anatomy and drapery.
step 05
Add details to the tree trunk, creating texture with dry brush techniques.
step 06
Paint the doves, paying attention to their form and how they interact with the ground.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · raw sienna

Achieve the earth tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use ultramarine blue and viridian green to create the cooler tones in the background landscape. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber to create the red-brown hues in the saint's robe.

techniques

·figure drawing
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brush
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
→Making the colors too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, viridian green, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife