Master Study: Doni Tondo

[Immortal]

In the next two weeks, I plan on completing a 23.5" diameter mastery study of Michelangelo's Doni Tondo. Not only will I be using a Renaissance palette and cangiantismo, I will also require a large amount of Rock Star, Bawls, etc. to achieve the completion of this project within the due time frame.

I got home at around 2 PM today from classes and started working on the underdrawing. I've been at it for about 8-10 hours. At one point, I had to scrap most of my underdrawing due to a fatal error.

Here are the digital pictures I took:

Underdrawing:

I'm disappointed in myself. I really need to lose the heavy-handedness that seems to haunt my every drawing. I'm afraid my underpainting (first layer of paint) will be contaminated by all the lingering graphite markings I've vainly attempted to erase.

Oh well, that's what I get for doing my underdrawing at the last minute.

For now I'm sorry but I don't have much I can share due to the current time constraints, but I promise to show more later.

[Immortal]

Here's the rest of the underdrawing -- it is finished. I am now in the process of laying down my first layer of oil, underpainting. I'm trying to stick to a Renaissance palette and Michelangelo's technique of layering.

Although documentation for his technique is somewhat generalized (probably due to my research/historical documentation of his technique), I have found some indirect paths that lead to answers. In the Renaissance, most painters used a green underpainting for flesh tones. So, I'm staying true to that. As for other colors assigned to certain tones, I'm unsure. Looks like I'll be able to improvise :P.

I will say that Michelangelo's signature technique, cangiantismo, was that he would model form with shifts in hue, along with shifts in value. For example, he would use a green for warmer/higher value area of flesh and then use a blue-green for cooler/lower value areas.

Here are the photos,

First couple = beginnings of underpainting
Last few = finished underdrawing

[WeaVes]

Good start.

[Red Fleet]

can't wait to see it finished!

[OmenSpirits]

Can you get the images clearer? I likes but, abit on the fuzzy side.

[Immortal]

Omen, Red, Weaves: Thanks for the praise.

Omen: I think it's my camera. For some reason it likes to fuzz things up. Not sure how else to explain it but it has been doing this ever since I've noticed.

Tonight, I finally get to make some real progress on this puppy. I'd say the first half or more is not from tonight. But, I didn't want to keep you in the dark. I will be posting the rest of my progress later tonight when I finish...

THE UNDERPAINTING!!!

Enjoy!

[SweetPea]

very nice man off to a great start, im assuming ull make it circular?
cant wait to see it finished!!

[Immortal]

SweetPea: Uhm...haven't really decided how I want to present this piece. I'm debating whether or not I should (or have time) to mimic the decorations on the brim of the gold dish from the original Doni Tondo.

THE UNDERPAINTING IS FINISHED! (Plus 2nd Layer Skin)

From here I work on getting the 2nd layer of paint on everything else. Tonight, I hope it will be dry (thank you cobalt dryer) so I can work on a white layer and possible finish with local color tomorrow.

Cheers mates!

[SweetPea]

i see.... very nice update

are you planning on putting it in a show or is it for school or something?

[Immortal]

I'm going crazy...

SweetPea: Thanks, this is for my painting 1 class final (which is in 5 hours). I have so much more to do and I feel like I haven't even done it right. Oh well, I can't be Michelangelo himself I guess. If I was, I wouldn't have wasted my money going to college :P I hope prof approves of it :P

Yea, I'm definitely losing my mind right now...tehehe. I have to complete this by 6:30ish AM so I can get to class by 8AM this morning (I commute). Plus, it's snowy and icey where I live (Indiana). So, I'm a nervous wreck right about now.

I hope you like the update, everything got a 2nd layer. Hopefully I can get the third on by 630ish.