plate no. 9986

Two Witches

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancegenre paintingfiguresnudeslandscapeskycloudsgoat

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, anatomical accuracy, and subtle color blending to create realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and composition.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figures.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering thin glazes of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Carefully render the drapery, focusing on the folds and how they interact with the light.
step 05
Add details to the faces, hair, and other features.
step 06
Work on the background details, like the sky and landscape, using soft blending techniques.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use blue and black to create shadows. Mix yellow ochre and white for the lighter areas of the drapery.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·figure drawing
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→inaccurate proportions
→muddy colors
→flat skin tones
→overworked details

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags