Study of the Head and Shoulders of an Old Bearded Man Wearing A Cap

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, ochre, and a touch of blue. Use varying amounts of white to create highlights and shadows. The beard is created by layering light and dark tones of ochre, umber, and white.

techniques

• ·underpainting
• ·glazing
• ·dry brushing
• ·blending
• ·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

• →Over-blending, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
• →Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
• →Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
• →Using too much paint, obscuring the underpainting.