plate no. 7503
Virgin and Child
Lucas van Leyden, 1530
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as understanding how to render drapery and folds.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and composition.
- step 02
Establish the background color with thin washes of green and black.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with base colors: flesh tones, green for the dress, white for the head covering.
- step 04
Start layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the drapery by adding folds and highlights to the dress and head covering.
- step 06
Paint the details of the face, including eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add the details of the child, including the orb and flower.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting by adjusting values and adding final details.
color palette
primary · titanium white · viridian green · cadmium red light · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · gold
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and a touch of yellow ochre. Achieve the green by mixing viridian green with black and white for highlights. Use raw umber and black for shadows.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures.
- →Overly harsh blending, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Inaccurate skin tone rendering.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the drapery.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to create a warmer base.
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