How To Paint Caravaggio-Style Tenebrism Glaze In Acrylic

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/ By Matt Philleo

Add lighter values on top of the dark instead of carving around them.

In the art world, few styles evoke as much drama and intensity as Caravaggio’s tenebrism. This technique, a more extreme version of chiaroscuro, involves intense contrasts between light and dark to create depth, mystery, and emotion in a painting. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to replicate Caravaggio’s tenebrism glaze using acrylics, beginning with a glazing technique and moving into a brown ground to create a powerful effect of light emerging from darkness.

What is Tenebrism?

Tenebrism is a style used in painting where deep shadows dominate the scene, while illuminated figures stand out starkly against the dark background. Caravaggio was a master of this technique, creating artwork where light dramatically reveals key elements while the rest of the canvas is engulfed in darkness. The approach captures emotion and creates tension, making the illuminated parts appear almost three-dimensional.

The Transition from Glazing to Tenebrism

At the beginning of this project, I employed a traditional glazing technique, which involves building layers of transparent paint to achieve depth and subtle shifts in tone. While glazing offers control and smooth transitions, it doesn’t always produce the dramatic impact that Caravaggio’s tenebrism achieves. This is where switching to a brown ground, a foundational step of Renaissance artists, comes into play.

Preparing the Brown Ground

Step 1: Select Your Pigment

To create the brown ground, you’ll want to mix raw umber, a pigment often used during the Renaissance. For this project, I mixed raw umber dark with a clear acrylic matte medium. You can also add a touch of ultramarine blue for cooler shadows, but raw umber should be the dominant color.

Step 2: Apply the First Layer

Using a large flat brush, begin by applying the raw umber glaze over your entire canvas. Keep your strokes smooth, using vertical strokes to cover the area, then go over it with diagonal crisscross strokes to blend the glaze evenly. The goal is to create an even brown tone across the entire canvas, which will serve as the foundation for adding highlights and shadows later.

Layering to Create Depth

Step 3: Build Multiple Glazes

One layer of glaze might not be enough to achieve the rich, dark tone you’re looking for. Apply additional layers of raw umber, allowing each to dry in between. By layering, you’ll deepen the shadows and create a background that enhances the contrast of your highlights.

Adding Light and Highlights

Step 4: Introduce White Highlights

Once your brown ground is set, you can begin adding titanium white highlights. This is where Caravaggio’s tenebrism really comes to life. Gently build up areas of light by applying small strokes of white paint where you want the focus to be—the face, hands, or drapery, for instance. Start with faint highlights and gradually intensify them.

Tip: Remember, the light in tenebrism isn’t evenly distributed. Focus the brightest highlights on a single point of interest and allow the light to fade as it moves away from this area, leaving the majority of the canvas in shadow.

Techniques for Effective Light and Shadow

Blending for Soft Transitions: Use a dry brush technique to gently blend the edges of your highlights into the surrounding dark areas. This will soften the transition between light and dark, giving a realistic sense of form and depth.
Wet-on-Wet Blending: To create a smooth gradient between light and shadow, work while the paint is still wet. This allows you to merge the colors seamlessly, achieving a lifelike glow.

The Importance of Contrast

In tenebrism, contrast is everything. Caravaggio’s works often feature harsh, abrupt shifts between light and dark. To achieve this, ensure that your dark values are sufficiently deep and that your highlights are bright enough to stand out. As the painting progresses, continuously compare your lights and darks, adjusting them as needed to maintain the dramatic effect.

Adjusting the Composition

Step 5: Revisit the Dark Areas

Once you’ve established your highlights, you may need to go back into the dark areas to further emphasize the contrast. A few light touches of raw umber or a darker mix of ultramarine blue and burnt umber can help reinforce the shadows.

This step is crucial because it prevents the painting from feeling too evenly lit, which would reduce the dramatic tension characteristic of tenebrism.

Tips for Success

Keep Your Glazes Thin: For a smooth, luminous finish, always dilute your paint with acrylic matte medium. This allows you to build up color gradually without losing transparency.
Use a Large Brush for Base Layers: A large, flat brush works best when applying the initial glazes. It helps ensure an even coat and speeds up the process.
Work in Layers: Don’t rush to add your highlights. Allow each layer to dry fully before moving on to the next. Patience is key for achieving the depth tenebrism requires.
Focus on Lighting: Tenebrism is all about the interplay of light and shadow. Consider how the light source affects your subject and exaggerate those effects for dramatic impact.

Caravaggio’s tenebrism offers a striking, dramatic approach to painting, one that captures the eye and draws the viewer into the story being told on canvas. By combining traditional glazing techniques with a brown ground and stark white highlights, you can create an acrylic painting that captures the power and mystery of light emerging from the darkness.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

Painting a Caravaggio-Style Tenebrism Glaze in Acrylic

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