Helen Stirling Stuart of Castlemilk

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle variations in the dress by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber, yellow ochre, and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create the darker tones in the background and shadows.

techniques

• ·scumbling
• ·dry brushing
• ·glazing
• ·alla prima
• ·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
• →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
• →Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the figure.
• →Not paying attention to the light and shadow patterns on the dress.