plate no. 0937
Saint Sebastian
some experience helpful
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 hair and fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and arrow.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, even tone.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and arrow, using thin washes.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions and define the form of the face and body.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, paying attention to the curls and highlights.
- step 06
Refine the clothing, including the folds and the fleur-de-lis pattern.
- step 07
Paint the halo and the details of the crown.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · viridian · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red light for warmth. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the dark background. Mix viridian and ultramarine blue for the green tones in the clothing.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·rendering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 16x20
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·Flat brush (size 6)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
Use high-quality paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to make it easier to establish the dark background.
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