plate no. 9733
St. Cecilia
Bernardo Strozzi, 1625
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create form through light and shadow. It will also develop skills in painting realistic drapery and skin tones.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Establish the dark background using deep browns and blacks.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, and instrument.
- step 04
Begin layering light and shadow to define the form of the figure and drapery.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the highlights on the face and hands.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and patterns.
- step 07
Refine the instrument and other details.
- step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black for shadows. Use burnt umber and black for the dark background.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·drapery studies
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Making the shadows too flat and lifeless.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall form.
- →Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the dark background.
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