Portrait of the Artist Konstantin Savitsky

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create darker tones by adding black or burnt umber. The background is primarily a mix of burnt umber and red, with subtle variations achieved by adding small amounts of other colors.

techniques

• ·portrait sketching
• ·value blocking
• ·scumbling
• ·dry brushing
• ·glazing

common pitfalls

• →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
• →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or lifeless appearance.
• →Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
• →Ignoring the importance of the background in creating depth and atmosphere.