Julie Donec

Model with red hair #1

Here is the layout done for a class demonstration. I've toned the board with a mix made with yellow ochre, burnt sienna, a very small amount of burnt umber and enough solvent to make it a thin consistency. A large foam brush was used to apply the mix, and a clean soft cotten cloth to even out the brush stokes. The effect was a little streaky, but for this portrait, it wasn't a problem. We made a comparison in class between a store bought canvas and our gessoed boards, using the same mix to tone both supports. The gessoed board not only absorbed much faster, but the colours on the gessoed board were much more saturated and vivid. After toning the board, let dry completely. Next came a quick gesture drawing in chalk, (you can see the lines under the paint), followed by using the same mix I'd used for toning the board, with just a touch more of burnt umber to start blocking in the figure. I kept the mix very thin, softening edges/areas with another clean cloth. It doesn't look like much at the moment, but after checking the proportions at home, there weren't too many major changes; the nose is shortened in the next few steps, and the hair is trimmed back on the top.