plate no. 0239
St. Michael
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, layering colors to create depth, and rendering textures like fabric and gold. It also provides practice in replicating a classical, stylized composition.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and architectural elements.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background.
- step 03
Begin layering colors to build up depth and form in the face and hands.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing, including the patterns and textures.
- step 05
Paint the wings and halo, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
- step 06
Refine the background and architectural details.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.
- step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the overall tone.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create gold tones by layering yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of white. Mix blues with white for lighter shades and burnt umber for darker shades.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Applying paint too thickly.
- →Losing the subtle variations in color.
- →Not paying enough attention to the details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·yellow ochre acrylic paint
- ·ultramarine blue acrylic paint
- ·burnt umber acrylic paint
- ·titanium white acrylic paint
- ·round brushes sizes 2, 4, 6
- ·flat brush size 1/2 inch
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·glazing medium
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. Apply multiple thin layers of paint rather than one thick layer.
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