Julie Donec

Mona Lisa #7

I have used raw umber as the mid-tone base; lightening where it was needed with a bit of either white, yellow or ochre and darkened with either/and Phthalo blue and burnt umber. The darks were a mix of burnt umber, ivory black and often Phthalo and Ultramarine blue. The lights in the image were done with Flake White, Yellow Ochre and Cadmium Yellow Light and Cadmium Yellow Medium. Burnt Sienna was used to bring in a warm tone where it was needed, i.e. in the modelling of the hair and in the hands and face, and especially at the viewer's left in the winding river backdrop. At this point the painting has an odd greenish cast, looking a little like like it has been suspended floating in a not-so- clean aquarium...However, I'm counting on the green undertones to help cool the more pinkish hues and reds I'll be laying over the face and hair in the next step.