plate no. 1747

The Three Sisters

oil, panelHigh Renaissanceportraitfigureswomenlandscapeclothinghairportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations and blending techniques to create soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figures' poses and the basic landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall tonal values.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, paying attention to the proportions and anatomical accuracy.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, using subtle variations to create depth and form.
step 05
Define the clothing folds and details, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values for highlights.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the expressions and individual characteristics of each figure.
step 07
Add details to the hair, using fine brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the darker tones in the clothing and background.

techniques