Alexander I, as a child

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark background.

techniques

• ·portrait painting
• ·glazing
• ·blending
• ·value studies
• ·color mixing

common pitfalls

• →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
• →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
• →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in skin tone.
• →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.
• →Overtly visible brushstrokes