View Single Post
Old 10-29-2002, 02:12 PM   #2
Michael Georges Michael Georges is offline
PAINTING PORTRAITS
FROM LIFE MODERATOR

FT Professional
 
Michael Georges's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 846
Hello Leslie:

I hope you will get lots of replies on this one. Your underpainting is very nice and it looks like it will be a good first portrait!

There are many different ways to paint using a monochromatic underpainting. My advice to you is to paint with glazes in the areas where a glaze will work (i.e., the background, possibly her shirt, and her hair), and paint with solid paint in the areas where that is more appropriate (i.e., her hairband, her flesh).

As to her flesh, I have not tried the combination of Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin, and Ultramarine that you refer to, but I believe that skin has a lot of lighter colors and lighter colors tend to be more opaque and thereby not entirely suitable for glazes. You might try to mix your flesh tones from an earth red, yellow ochre, black, and white. You would mix several values of skin color from dark to light. Don't make them too orange. Use your underpainting as a map of where to put what skin value.

I hope that helps and I am sure you will get others with advice as well.
__________________
Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com
Michael's Life Drawing & Painting Blog

Regular and consistent work from life will improve your portraits.
Drawing skills are the foundation of all an artist does.
  Reply With Quote