plate no. 0008

Saint Paul

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingportraitfigurebeardreligious figureold man

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using chiaroscuro to model form. It also provides practice in rendering textures like skin and hair with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and beard.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the mid-tones of the face, using a mix of browns, reds, and yellows.
step 04
Begin to define the light areas on the face, paying attention to the planes and contours.
step 05
Add highlights to the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
step 06
Start working on the beard, using a combination of dark and light grays to create texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Vary the proportions to create different shades and highlights. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background and shadows.

techniques