plate no. 0906

Saint Laurent

oilBaroquereligious paintingfiguresaintlandscapeladderrobesky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict complex drapery and create atmospheric perspective in a landscape. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the ladder.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad washes of color, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and the robe, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin to develop the details of the robe, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 05
Refine the facial features and skin tones, using subtle gradations of color.
step 06
Paint the ladder, paying attention to its structure and the way it interacts with the light.
step 07
Add final details to the landscape, such as trees and foliage.
step 08
Glaze the entire painting to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the robe's golden hue by mixing yellow ochre with burnt sienna and white. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the atmospheric sky. Darken colors with raw umber and lighten with titanium white.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·atmospheric perspective
·drapery studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Failing to establish a strong value structure
→Ignoring atmospheric perspective
→Getting lost in the complexity of the drapery

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags