Artwork by María Villa
… In my opinion studying the Old Masters is essential for this task. As far as I Know, precisely the arrival of the Oil Painting Medium enabled to paint the human flesh in the more realistic way, never seen before (grisaille and glazes of Primitive Flemish Masters of 15th century) With the ages, other contributions were made (sfumato of LEONARDO DA VINCI in 15th and 16th centuries, scumbling and impasto of TITIAN in the 16th, which was carried to their greatest expressions in REMBRANDT Works in the Baroque period and chiaroscuro style… What I find amazing is how despite all this different techniques and ways of painting, the resulting portraits can be so realistic.
After this, I find it would be very interesting to learn how to paint in “Alla prima” and in the Impressionist and Postimpressionist way of Direct Method, and so on. …
