plate no. 4094

St Peter

oilRococoreligious paintingfigureportraitbeardreligious figurerobehand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as understanding dramatic lighting and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the robe, the skin tones, and the beard.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the shadows and highlights on the face and hands.
step 04
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add texture to the beard and hair using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the folds and drapery of the robe, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Refine the details of the hand, paying attention to the knuckles and fingernails.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · crimson · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of crimson. Achieve the robe color by mixing crimson with a small amount of black and raw umber. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a strong light source.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: crimson, ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags