Lea WIP: A lady of many layers

[Libby_Cowgill]

I thought I would post a thread on my portrait painting process. I’ve been lurking around here for a while, and I’m hoping to get both encouragement and constructive criticism from you guys. I’d describe my process as rather anal-retentive and time consuming—I like indirect painting, realism, with luminous colors and almost no visible brush strokes. Here is an example of my previous work.

This is Lea, oil on 18 by 24 gesso board. Below is the reference photo I took of her. I don’t really believe in copying a photo directly so lots will be different in the actual painting.

[Libby_Cowgill]

I like a really smooth, detailed monochromatic underpainting to glaze over, so what I consider the underpainting is actually multiple layers of underpainting. I’m still experimenting with what color underpainting I like best for skin. This one is warm grey from black mixed with yellow ochre. The arm is only in the first layer of underpainting and the face is three (and done).

[Tony11214]

The face looks very much like her!

[Tony11214]

In the past some painters used Terra Verde for the underpainting of skin.

[Amian3d]

Looks promising, also the likeness is quite good!

[Libby_Cowgill]

Tony: I find it a little hard to paint over a pure green underpainting, so I think I will add green in for the first glaze.

Thanks for the thoughts and encouragement, guys!

[Libby_Cowgill]

3: Underpainting is basically done, other than a few spots of the shawl that need a little touching up. Hair is Raw Umber and Titanium white (and I’ve basically just blocked in tones that I will paint over more directly than the rest of the portrait). Shawl is Ivory Black and Titanium White (it will be blue in the final painting). For my own amusement, I’m keeping track of how many layers I’ve applied. This is 3-4, at this point. Any constructive criticism is welcome.

[Humbaba]

I have been taught, and I apply it every time I have the chance to paint, that it is advisable to use quick drying oil paint when creating a Grisaille. Umbers, Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, mixed with white are all suitable for this task, by intermixing Umbers with Prussian blue, you can create an ample range of warm or cool grays.

In addition of giving the benefit of drying fast, you can avoid having cracks in the future once the paint is completed with colors.

[Libby_Cowgill]

Humbaba: Thanks for your thoughts. I'm pretty much self taught and have learned what I know from here and youtube. That said, all these layers dried quite quickly because the only medium I use is Liquin, which I use consistently all the way through the painting. I paint a layer cut with Liquin and then wait till it's bone dry (24-48 hours) and then do another. I'm hoping the added flexibility of Liquin will prevent cracking. It's hard to tell how "archival" this is and what it will look like in 100 years, but the previous piece I did in this manner has not cracked.