The Pianist (Vere Bosman Di Ravelli)

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with touches of red and blue for shadows. Achieve the blue of the jacket by mixing cerulean blue with white and a touch of black. Create the scarf color by mixing cadmium red with a touch of yellow and white.

techniques

• ·color mixing
• ·blocking in
• ·visible brushstrokes
• ·scumbling
• ·layering

common pitfalls

• →Over-blending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
• →Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
• →Using too much detail too early in the process.
• →Not paying attention to the light and shadow.
• →Getting proportions wrong in the initial sketch.