plate no. 1088
St. Bartholomew
Konrad Witz, 1434
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice rendering realistic drapery and subtle color variations in skin tones. Students can also learn about creating depth through careful value control.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the figure's pose and major shapes.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral colors.
- step 03
Establish the basic values of the robe, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to create the subtle variations in the robe's fabric.
- step 05
Paint the face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.
- step 06
Add details to the book, box, and the robe's embellishments.
- step 07
Refine the edges and add final highlights.
- step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · gold
Mix various shades of white with raw umber and ivory black to achieve the off-white color of the robe. Use cadmium red mixed with raw umber for the box. Mix ultramarine blue with white for the undergarment.
techniques
- ·drapery rendering
- ·glazing
- ·underpainting
- ·value studies
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Oversimplifying the folds of the robe, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Using too much pure white, making the robe look stark.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
- →Rushing the initial sketch, leading to inaccurate proportions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) is recommended.
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