plate no. 1340

Santa Catalina De Siena

oilBaroquereligious paintingfigurenunreligiouscrown of thornshandsportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as understanding how to render drapery and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the main shapes of the background.
step 02
Establish the background colors, blending the gold and dark green areas.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure: the face, habit, and hands.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the drapery of the habit, creating folds and highlights.
step 06
Paint the crown of thorns, capturing the intricate details and shadows.
step 07
Add the beads and the stigmata on the hand.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red light. Achieve the dark greens by mixing ivory black and viridian. Use raw umber and yellow ochre for the gold background.

techniques