plate no. 8703
St. Augustine
Antonello da Messina, 1472
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering drapery, and creating a sense of depth using subtle value changes. It also provides practice in achieving a muted, historical color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the surrounding architectural element.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Begin layering in the local colors, starting with the background and then moving to the figure's robe and book.
- step 04
Carefully build up the values in the face and hands, paying attention to the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing and book, such as folds, creases, and textures.
- step 06
Refine the edges of the figure and the architectural element, softening them where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add the small dark spots to mimic the painting's aged appearance.
- step 08
Apply a final glaze of diluted color to unify the painting and enhance the overall mood.
color palette
primary · red ochre · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · gold ochre · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth pigments with white and small amounts of black. Use glazes of diluted color to create depth and luminosity.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic gesso
- ·Raw umber acrylic paint
- ·Red ochre acrylic paint
- ·Ivory black acrylic paint
- ·Titanium white acrylic paint
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 1/4", 1/2")
optional
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Palette knife
- ·Varnish
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. Consider using a canvas with a smooth texture to facilitate blending.
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