plate no. 0869
St Mary of Egypt
Tintoretto, 1587
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering, glazing, and creating atmospheric perspective with a limited color palette. Students will also learn to depict the effects of light and shadow on various textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, the river, and the large tree.
- step 02
Establish the dark underpainting using burnt umber and black, paying attention to the overall value structure.
- step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones, gradually building up the forms of the trees, rocks, and figure.
- step 04
Introduce highlights to the figure, the water, and the foliage, using lighter shades of ochre and white.
- step 05
Refine the details of the figure's face and clothing, adding subtle shadows and highlights.
- step 06
Work on the background landscape, creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
- step 07
Add final touches to the water, capturing the movement and reflections of light.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall mood.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · alizarin crimson
Achieve the warm browns by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use white to create highlights and lighter shades of ochre for foliage.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
- →Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective in creating depth.
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
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
Use a canvas with a smooth texture to facilitate blending and glazing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish the dark underpainting more easily.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Apollo and the Muses (Parnassus)
Lavinia Fontana
Portrait Of Don Rodrigo Vasquez
El Greco
Madonna Bolognini
Correggio
The Unhappy Lot of the Rich
Maerten van Heemskerck
Head of a Woman
Orazio Gentileschi
The Deposition
Giorgio Vasari
Portrait of a Man Holding a Letter
Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino"
Portrait of the Physician Carlo Fontana
Bartolomeo Passerotti