Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Use glazes of red and yellow to add warmth to the flesh. Mix blue and white for the cool drapery, adding touches of red for variation.

techniques

• ·figure drawing
• ·portraiture
• ·glazing
• ·sfumato
• ·color blending

common pitfalls

• →Incorrect proportions of the figures.
• →Overly harsh or abrupt transitions in value.
• →Muddy or dull skin tones.
• →Lack of attention to detail in the drapery.
• →Failing to capture the emotional expressions of the figures.