plate no. 0688

The Son of a Saint M’rabeth

Nasreddine Dinet, 1900

oil, canvasOrientalismreligious paintingfigurescrowdarchitecturerobesturbanslight

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex figures and drapery, as well as capturing subtle variations in skin tones and light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main figures.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the figures, robes, and background.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the faces, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the folds and textures of the drapery, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the details of the architecture and background, keeping them soft and atmospheric.
step 07
Glaze in the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of red and blue for variation. Use raw umber and ivory black to create shadows.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw umber)
·Turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags