A master copy in oil on canvas is created in several stages: canvas preparation, drawing, gradual application of color, and final varnish. Every painting is executed using this traditional method. Oil painting brings depth, nuance, and a living presence to the work.
To share this know-how, I present step-by-step demonstrations showing exactly how I create a hand-painted fine-art copy, stage by stage.
This patient, precise process is the key to authentic, durable, high-quality paintings.
❯ Browse the painters I reproduce, organized by style
We begin with a wash sketch, then lay in transparent layers. Volumes are then built up with body colour to bring light and relief. You can see these rarely shown stages in images throughout my demonstrations.
These visuals follow, step by step, the faithful reproduction of two renowned works — Fragonard’s The Reader — from monochrome wash to final body-colour finishes.
This progression reveals the precision of the gesture, the richness of colour, and the respect for historical techniques that give each copy its depth and authenticity.
❯ See comparisons between originals and copies
How do you paint a convincing still life?
A traditional still life is built in successive layers: sketch, volumes, textures, and blending for a faithful, lifelike result.
These photos trace the progressive creation of a Dutch still life in oil, from the initial layout to the final touches. Each phase reveals volumes, light, and textures — metal, glass, fruit, fabrics — a meticulous orchestration inspired by the Flemish masters.
❯ Read analyses of old-master works
Young Girl in a Pink Feather Hat, after Renoir
Creating a portrait depends on a fine balance between likeness and vitality. After the preparatory drawing, a first wash layer establishes the main masses of the face. Colour is then developed with successive glazes, shaping the volumes and capturing light with subtlety.
Gradually, skin transitions, the sparkle of the gaze, and the finesse of features are refined with precision. This attention to detail gives the portrait its expressive intensity and sets it apart from a simple photographic reproduction, restoring the living presence of the sitter.
❯ Learn more about Renoir and the paintings I reproduce
Painting an academic nude follows a strict, methodical progression. After the grid and imprimatura, values are laid in grisaille/camaieu to establish light–shadow relationships. This foundation ensures coherent volumes and prepares the modeling of flesh.
Layer by layer, the material is built: impasted highlights on salient areas, soft blended halftones for gentle transitions, and refined shadows for depth.
The whole prioritizes continuity of form and anatomical precision. This patient, structured work gives the nude its classical balance, faithful to academic tradition and the spirit of the masters.
❯ See the list of classical painters
A light imprimatura unifies the surface and eases subsequent modeling. The drawing is set by grid or tracing, in an ochre or brown wash, to fix proportions and anatomical axes.
Lights and shadows are established in camaieu, often in ochre tones. This ensures accurate lighting before colour arrives.
Flesh and volumes are developed through superimposed layers. Edges are treated by function: “lost” in shadow areas to merge forms into space; “found” in lit areas to strengthen sharpness and relief.
Glazes enrich the complexion by playing warm/cool contrasts: rosy, luminous tones for vascularized areas; cooler notes in shadows and halftones. This subtle play gives the rendering its depth.
Opaque highlights on salient zones (cheekbones, hands, reflections) and light dark accents finalize the structure. This subtle contrast makes the whole both precise and alive.
Whether portrait or nude, these stages restore the sitter’s presence while respecting the masters’ heritage.
To conclude these demonstrations, here are a few close-up views showing the precision of the brushwork and the fidelity of textures — reflections, materials, subtle color tones…
These details reveal the level of care devoted to each copy, right down to the final touches.
❯ See ordering terms for a painting reproduction
ARTISTE DE PARIS
Christian Denéchaud, artiste peintre
6 rue du Vermois
78310 MAUREPAS
SIRET 45224846100033
FR90452248461
© Artiste de Paris . fr - 2025
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