Step 1

This painting is a narrative depiction from the Book of Luke where Christ teaches the parable of the good Samaratan. Research has been done on the scriptural account to ascertain location, mood, and figures shown. It is also important to consider value placement, lighting, color, props, compositional elements, and gestures of the different figures.

All of these considerations have been worked out in a black-and-white value sketch and a maquette or color study before the final painting is started.

The final painting (Figure 1) is much larger than the studies and is begun with an underpainting (Figure 2,3) in grasaille or monocrhromatic washes of burnt umber.

Grisaille is a method of painting that uses shades of gray to establish the main tones and shades of a paintaing. Grisaille is typically a dark umber/earth tone hue worked in different opacities to achieve the intended result.

Grisaille comes from the mid-19th century from the French word “gris” meaning “gray.”

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Figure 1: The final painting

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Figures 2, 3: Underpainting

Step 2

The process continues beginning somewhere close to the middle of the composition with the central figure and working out toward the edges until the entire surface is covered.

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Figure 1: Full grisaille underpainting

Step 3

At this point the entire painting is covered with a monochromatic umber glaze. From this the opaque colors and details will be built up. Local colors can also be glazedover monochromatic areas and then adjusted.

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Figure 1: Monochromatic umber glaze

Step 4

Colors are introduced next—both opaque and transparent washes.

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Figure 1: Colors introduced

Step 5

Colors become more opaque in the lighter areas and remain more transparent in the shadows. The shadow areas are kept warm and the lights are consistantly cooler.

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Figure 1: Adding color

Step 6

Thee painting moves from general to specific with attention given to defining the edges and detail in various areas (Figure 1).

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Figure 1: Adding details

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Figure 2: The finished painting