Vermeer’s works are largely genre pieces (scenes from everyday life) and portraits, with the exception of two cityscapes and two allegorical pieces. He had no formal training, and there is only limited evidence that Vermeer created any preparatory sketches or traces for his paintings.
Our study of Vermeer is based on scientific analysis of his paintings at different museums and art institutes. Detailed notes will be given, which include historical and background information about the artist and his paintings.
Master Copy Painting
Copying master paintings is one of the best ways to improve your painting skills, and painting the nude figure in particular offers the greatest scope for understanding gesture, capturing proportion, turning form, and mastering the effects of subtle colour.
You will be given a choice of paintings by Vermeer to study and copy, thereby gaining a deep insight into his materials and working methods and techniques. You will copy at least one of the following paintings, depending on how much time you have available. Step-by-step notes on how to copy each painting as well as demonstrations will be given for all three paintings:
Painting Methods & Techniques
The first steps in oil painting make no use of colour – instead, they focus on a technique known as grisaille, which uses only monochrome tones (usually of grey, hence the French, “gris” in “grisaille”). This technique enables you to learn how to mix, understand and apply values and render form. These shorter exercises using grisaille include matching a value strip, rendering a geometric volume, and painting a plaster cast using this monochrome system.
The core principles of 17th-century Dutch painting will be shown in a sequence of simple and logical steps:
- Applying a toned ground or imprimatura
- Making accurate measurements and proportions, and emphasising a good sense of gesture using the dry-brush method
- Delineating light and shadow
- Creating a ‘dead colour’ layer
- Using the full palette to develop the large and medium forms of the first painting
- Rendering the smaller forms and details of the second painting
- Glazing, and paying close attention to edge quality
Throughout the course, you will be shown many time-honoured techniques used to create a realistic painting in oils. You will learn how to organise your palette and mix colours, including realistic skin tones, accurately and economically. Other concepts and techniques will be explained, including:
- Chiaroscuro, sfumato and impasto
- Blending, handling transitions, and edge quality
- Glazing and the ‘fat-over-lean’ principle
- Caring for brushes
- Understanding and utilising solvents and mediums
Studio Practices
As well as learning about Vermeer’s painting method and techniques, 17th-century studio practices will also be explained.