Portrait of a Man (probably Cesare Borgia)

approach — 8 steps

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Dark areas are created by mixing ivory black and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadow areas.

techniques

• ·portraiture
• ·glazing
• ·chiaroscuro
• ·blending
• ·scumbling

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in color.
• →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
• →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
• →Not paying enough attention to the value structure.