Self-Portrait

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of cadmium red light. Use ivory black to darken values and create shadows. Yellow ochre can be used to add warmth to the skin tones.

techniques

• ·underpainting
• ·blocking in
• ·scumbling
• ·dry brushing
• ·glazing

common pitfalls

• →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
• →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
• →Failing to capture the subtle value shifts that create form.
• →Ignoring the importance of the background in creating a sense of depth.