plate no. 0094

Saint Paul

oilNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresaintbookswordbeardrobe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, drapery rendering, and creating subtle value transitions to model form. It also provides practice in depicting textures like hair and metal.

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 proportions of the figure and the placement of the book and sword.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the red background, the white robe, the flesh tones, and the brown beard.
step 03
Begin to develop the values within each area, using lighter and darker shades to create form and depth.
step 04
Pay close attention to the folds and shadows in the drapery, using subtle value changes to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth. Use small brushes to create fine lines and details.
step 06
Render the book and sword, paying attention to the textures and details of these objects.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, making sure that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · red ochre · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve the flesh tones by mixing white, red ochre, and a touch of raw umber. The robe is primarily white with subtle additions of raw umber to create shadows. The background is a mix of red ochre and cadmium red light.

techniques