plate no. 8213

Saint Ivo

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigureportraitwindowlandscapebuildingletter

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering realistic textures like fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed sketch of the composition, paying close attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, using thin glazes to build up depth and luminosity.
step 04
Carefully render the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add the details of the clothing, including the fur trim and the folds in the fabric.
step 06
Paint the landscape visible through the window, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the writing on the letter and the highlights on the fur.
step 08
Glaze the entire painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and mix various browns and greens for the landscape.

techniques