Blog

Day 26

Paper: Ampersand Aquaboard

Paints:Ultramarine Blue, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Aureolin, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Red.

Today I laid color washes over my watercolor monochromatic block in.  I am still using the video lessons from Mario Robinson to guide me and see if I can get very soft transitions that round the form.  My daughter was filmed under a cool light so anything in the light is getting colors that lean toward blue so the skin tone is made from washes of quinacridone red and aureolin which is a yellow that leans slightly towards blue.  I am painting the highlights a sunny green and the half tones tend towards violet.   Anything in the shadow is leaning more towards orange and red.  For edge control I was careful to wet the area before I dropped in the color and if a hard edge did appear where I did not want it I quickly ran a damp brush along the edge.   I really enjoyed putting the layers of color on and feel as if the painting is properly prepped for some big dark value masses tomorrow which include the hair, shirt and parts of the background.  Hopefully the face is not too light and I will not have to rework the whole thing!

What I learned.

Layers of delicate washes can make skin tones luminous.

Keep three brushes handy, one to mix with ( It can be a cheap one), one to lay down clear water ( my squirrel mop brush is good for this) and one to paint with ( my lovely sable)