plate no. 7059
St. Jude Thaddeus
Georges de la Tour, 1650
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and metallic surfaces.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the pose and the placement of the knife.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone, leaving the figure's silhouette visible.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, robe, and knife, using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Begin building up the values in the face, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 05
Refine the details of the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Work on the robe, adding folds and highlights to give it dimension.
- step 07
Paint the knife, paying attention to the reflections and highlights on the metal surface.
- step 08
Add final details and adjustments to the overall composition.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white
Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of yellow ochre, then lighten with titanium white. Darken areas with ivory black.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much color and losing the muted, earthy tones.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value that create form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·painting medium
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to facilitate blending. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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