Portrait of Francis I

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · gold

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber, lightened with titanium white. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or muddy appearance.
• →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
• →Creating too much contrast, making the painting look harsh.
• →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.