plate no. 2731

St. Luke

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurebeardbookreligious figureportraitrobe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing the likeness and expression of a subject, and in rendering realistic skin tones and textures using a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a toned ground (e.g., burnt umber wash).
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure, book, and background.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darkest values in the background and shadows.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones using layers of thin paint, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the beard and hair, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 07
Paint the robe and book, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red or yellow ochre. Use raw umber and white for shadows and background.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast.
→Getting lost in details too early in the process.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints: raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags