Study At a Reading Desk

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and titanium white, adding small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. Create the dress color by mixing yellow ochre and a touch of red, and use burnt umber and ivory black for the dark background and carpet details.

techniques

• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·blending
• ·chiaroscuro
• ·rendering drapery

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
• →Getting lost in the details of the carpet and losing the overall composition.
• →Failing to establish a clear light source and creating flat, lifeless shadows.
• →Inaccurate proportions of the figure and reading desk.