plate no. 0289
The Fortune-teller
Lucas van Leyden, 1510
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering fabrics and textures, and creating a complex multi-figure composition. It also provides practice in glazing techniques to achieve depth and luminosity.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a detailed sketch of the composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones.
- step 03
Block in the main figures with basic color shapes, focusing on skin tones and clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create form and depth in the faces and hands.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including folds, textures, and embellishments.
- step 06
Paint the table and cards, paying attention to the intricate patterns.
- step 07
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to enhance the overall depth and luminosity.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to refine the details and create a sense of realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · viridian
Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, red, and white, with small amounts of umber for shadows. Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and adjust the hue with red or umber. Use glazes of ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create depth in the shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·rendering fabrics
- ·creating depth
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Getting proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the paint and losing the luminosity.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the composition.
- →Inaccurate color mixing, resulting in muddy or unnatural tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes sizes 0-4
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·damar varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next glaze.
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