Portrait of Totila

approach — 8 steps

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Achieve the skin tones by mixing red ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to create the gold tones of the crown and embellishments. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber and ivory black for the deep reds of the clothing.

techniques

• ·portraiture
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·chiaroscuro
• ·rendering textures

common pitfalls

• →Incorrect proportions can ruin the likeness.
• →Overworking the details can make the painting look stiff.
• →Using too much paint in the early layers can prevent proper layering.
• →Ignoring the subtle value changes can flatten the image.