Marvin, tell us about scumbling flesh . . .

[Richard Budig]

Marvin:

I was reading a back issue of The Artist Magazine and came upon your award winning mention for "Julia," (Congratulations!) in which you mention "scumbling flesh" and being able to get better flesh tone/texture with this approach.

I would like to know more about this technique. Is it possible to explain it in a paragraph or two here?

I'm sure others would find it interesting, also.

Again, lovely picture of Julia. How DID you manage all those little flowers on her dress?

[Marvin Mattelson]

Richard,

Thanks for the compliment. The flowers were little blobs of paint in the right place and the correct value. The dress was painted first and the flowers were applied over the dried dress color.

Scumbling was addressed several months on a thread a short while back. http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ight=scumbling

I spend a full day in my workshops and classes demonstrating this technique. To describe it adequately would require more than a couple of paragraphs.

Scumbling is essentially the layering of thin translucent layers over existing paint. It allows what's below to come through. It unifies and can be used to intensify the feeling of light. It is similar to glazing except that white paint is in the mixture. Glazing darkens what is below scumbling lightens.

Hope this helps.