plate no. 1498

The Incredulity of St. Thomas

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguresreligious scenemendraperyskin tones

experienced study

This painting offers a great opportunity to practice chiaroscuro and rendering realistic skin tones. Students will also develop skills in depicting complex figure arrangements and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and their positions.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the figures, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin paint to build up the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Pay close attention to the anatomical details and the way light interacts with the forms.
step 06
Add details to the faces, focusing on capturing the expressions of each figure.
step 07
Render the drapery, paying attention to the folds and the way light and shadow define its form.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use burnt umber and black for shadows, and white for highlights.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·portraiture
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the sense of form.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife