David with the Head of Goliath

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, ochre, and a touch of red. Use black and umber for the dark background and shadows. Create the metallic sheen of the armor by layering light and dark values of gray and brown.

techniques

• ·chiaroscuro
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·portraiture
• ·value studies

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
• →Failing to create a strong sense of depth and dimension.
• →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
• →Getting lost in details too early in the painting process.