Portrait of Cardinal Jacopo Rospigliosi

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · red ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of red and pink by combining red ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the dark background and shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white and a touch of red for highlights on the face.

techniques

• ·portraiture
• ·glazing
• ·chiaroscuro
• ·blending
• ·layering

common pitfalls

• →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
• →Overworking the details too early in the process.
• →Creating muddy or dull skin tones.
• →Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.