Sir John Soane

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the dark reds of the coat by mixing red, umber, and a touch of black. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the shadows.

techniques

• ·portraiture
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·blending
• ·value studies

common pitfalls

• →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
• →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
• →Making the dark areas too flat and lifeless.
• →Neglecting the details of the clothing and book.
• →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.