Portrait Painting Demonstration – Gwyneth – Part 4

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This layer can be scary because it looks so radical…but it basically what gives the skin its luminosity. Some people start with it but I wait until the surrounding areas are well established before I use any white paint.

I usually save the face until last because the skin tones are determined by what surrounds it. First, I draw the face in with raw umber and let it dry. Then I begin to use pure zinc white – straight from the tube and build form. Later I begin to use the more opaque titanium white paint.

I don’t usually paint over a color (as in the hair) but I realized that I needed to build the light on the face and hair all together.

The face underpainting is finished. It make several days and is a very slow process. It takes as long as it takes. It is necessary to get a likeness starting now.

Here are the finished hands. I always underpaint any skin that shows.

I think that this stage looks scary. It throws all the colors and values off and suddenly the painting looks dark and dreary.

But take heart, it is only a temporary condition.

Next step – glaze.

<< Gwyneth Demo Part 3 | Gwyneth Demo Part 5 > >

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