plate no. 8810

St. Jerome Reading

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguresaintbookcandlelighttablepaper

some experience helpful

This painting offers a great opportunity to practice chiaroscuro and rendering forms in low light. Students can learn to create depth and volume using subtle value shifts.

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, table, and major objects.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and objects with mid-tones.
step 04
Begin layering in the highlights, starting with the brightest areas on the paper and face.
step 05
Gradually build up the shadows, paying attention to the subtle transitions between light and dark.
step 06
Refine the details, such as the folds in the paper and the features of the face.
step 07
Add subtle reflected light to the shadowed areas to create depth.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and values.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Achieve the warm, glowing tones by mixing yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Use raw umber and ivory black for the dark shadows. Add titanium white to create highlights.

techniques