Descent into Limbo

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna to create the base tone for the figures and background. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Use ivory black to darken the shadows. Yellow ochre can be used sparingly to add warmth to the skin tones.

techniques

• ·underpainting
• ·glazing
• ·chiaroscuro
• ·figure drawing
• ·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the initial layers.
• →Failing to accurately capture the proportions and anatomy of the figures.
• →Using too much color and creating a discordant effect.
• →Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating a sense of depth.