plate no. 6406
St. Fredianus Diverts the River Serchio
Filippo Lippi, 1438
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice rendering drapery folds and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. Students can also learn about early Renaissance composition and color palettes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of figures and landscape elements.
- step 02
Establish the background colors, focusing on the muted tones.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' robes, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the faces and hands, using subtle shading.
- step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the drapery, using layering techniques.
- step 06
Refine the landscape elements, adding details to the river and architecture.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a soft, aged effect.
color palette
primary · red ochre · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · terra verte
Mix red ochre and white for the robes, adding small amounts of raw umber for shadows. Use a mix of raw umber, terra verte, and white for the river and landscape.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through value changes.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the drapery folds.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·gesso
- ·red ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·damar varnish
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with several layers of gesso before painting.
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