Portrait of Caterina Micaela of Spain

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white. Add small amounts of raw umber or burnt sienna to warm up the grays. Use cadmium red light for the lips and jewelry, and yellow ochre for subtle skin tones.

techniques

• ·portrait sketching
• ·value studies
• ·fur rendering
• ·glazing
• ·blending

common pitfalls

• →Incorrect proportions of the face and body.
• →Overworking the details of the fur, resulting in a flat, lifeless texture.
• →Failing to create a smooth transition between values in the face.
• →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unrealistic appearance.