Verdaccio nude WIP

[Brenda Ellis]

This is my first attempt at verdaccio. I plan to try to use the venetian method I read about on this forum.
I still have to finish out the left side of the canvas. My question is are my darks too dark? Or not dark enough? I want the shadow side of the head and arm to blend in with the background in the final painting. Also I am considering doing this same thing with the shadow side of the thigh, or at least darkening it much more. Not sure if that would look right. But the idea for this painting is the light through the lace on the figure. So everything else is extraneous to me. Any pointers? Any composition heads-ups? I'd greatly appreciate input, as the farther I go with this the less sure I am that my intentions will come across.

Sorry about the glare in the photo; wet paint.

The reference is a mix of three different photos all with the same light in the same position. One reference for the head, one for the torso and hands, and one for the legs. So any glaring proportion oddities might have gone unchecked by me so far...

[Brenda Ellis]

I forgot to give the size and medium. It's 20" x20" oil on canvas. I used veridian green, burnt umber and yellow ochre to make my green base, then added a black I made with burnt umber and ultramarine blue, and my white was titanium. I made 9 values (but found that I still had to do some mixing to get the values right.)

[Carlos Ygoa]

Brenda,
I believe this is the first work of yours I come across. I am attracted to your drawing, composition and overall design of the painting. (not to mention the great shadows of the lace on her body).
Approaching a painting this way is quite tedious although very gratifying. I personally find your values just about right especially since you want the effect of the arm and dark side of the head disappearing into the background. I would make the side of the lower buttock visible to us somewhat darker in value also...there seems to be a reflected light on it that doesn't really belong. Apart from that, I see nothing else out of line as far as values are concerned.
I use a combination of yellow ochre and black to get at a "verdaccio" that behaves well when mixed with white to get the value range.
Congratulations again and I am looking forward to seeing the finished painting.
Carlos

[Brenda Ellis]

Thank you, Carlos.
I went and bought some black paint so now I can keep my verdaccio mixes more regulated!
I haven't found this method too tedious so far. It is a lot like drawing as far as controlling and modeling the values and I find it simplifies things not having to worry about color and value at the same time.
(We'll see how I feel once I start glazing!)
I have darkened that errant reflected light on the buttock. Thanks!

I have been looking at examples of glazing or painting in layers over this kind of underpainting and I understand that I can use a mixture of transparent and opaque paints. ?. I went and got some glazing medium and mineral spirits too. (Am I right in thinking that I must use more glazing medium than mineral spirits while glazing in order to keep with the "fat over lean" principle?) Also I have not been able to find in my research anything about whether I must use colors designated as "transparent" for glazing or whether "opaque" colors will be transparent enough when glazing medium is added. I've looked through a few books and read some posts and articles online but didn't find one that clarified this point for me.

I still have to do the detail on the feet before I am ready to glaze. I have also found that my little brushes were not adequate as it was difficult for me to do the detail in the face and hands. I bought a tiny filbert with a pointed tip that I hope will help. My tiny round brushes end up getting splayed bristles too soon.

By the way, I have looked at some of your posted work on this forum and I really like your style; it is very evident and sensitive. And I love your portrait that your did from life of the little boy. Lovely. Do you have any work on this forum that you did with this verdaccio underpainting technique?

Well, thank you for your suggestions!
Onward ho!

[Mike McCarty]

Brenda,

In our "Glossary of Terms" you will find an entry for Grisaille, or Verdaccio. There you will see several links to discussions as well as a demonstration by Karen Wells.

I think I can hear her saying that you are going too dark too soon.

[Brenda Ellis]

Thank you, Mike.
Boy, this forum is like a labyrinth! (In a good way. A good labyrinth. No minotaurs...so far.)