Old Master studies

My First Attempt at Painting The Lady and the Ermine

I recently took on a challenge I’ve been both excited and nervous about — recreating The Lady and the Ermine, inspired by the techniques of the Old Masters. Rather than creating a strict copy, I allowed myself some creative freedom by blending elements from Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady and the Ermine with Raphael’s The Lady with a Unicorn, combining aspects of both compositions into a single interpretation. This piece marked a few “firsts” for me: my first experiment with classical underpainting, and my first real attempt at using the sfumato technique.

Discovering Sfumato

At first, working with sfumato felt a bit uneasy. The subtle transitions and soft, smoky edges demanded patience — it’s a completely different mindset from modern, crisp brushwork. But once I settled into the rhythm, I began to appreciate how it creates that incredibly gentle blending of tones and light that da Vinci mastered so beautifully.

Working Monochrome First

For the underpainting, I decided to work in a single color — a warm brown. Limiting myself to one hue was surprisingly liberating. Without the distraction of color, I could focus purely on values: the balance of lights and darks that gives a painting depth and structure. It made me really “see” the light in a new way.

Adding Color on Top

I’ll admit, I was worried when it came time to glaze color over the brown underpainting. I wasn’t sure how well it would bond or if it might muddy the vibrancy. But thankfully, it all came together. The color layers settled into the foundation, enriching the tones and unifying the whole image.

Reflections

This project has given me a huge appreciation for the patience and precision of the Old Masters. There’s a meditative quality to the process that pulls you in — each thin layer slowly revealing more life in the subject. Blending inspiration from two iconic works also encouraged me to think more deeply about how historical references can be reinterpreted rather than replicated. I’m excited to keep exploring these classical techniques and see how they might influence my own style moving forward.