At this point, my aim is to reinforce the shadows with a warm orange shade, and this is where the careful drawing pays off. I add my glazing layer at about 40% opacity, and add short strokes of colour…I merge the layer, blend the tones I have, and then add a layer with the same properties and repeat, gradually building up the forms by the direction of the blending strokes. I also at this stage, use the ‘smudge’ brush on the outside of the form to begin the ‘tightening up’ of the edges, a process I do all the way through. This lets me concentrate on the tones, and depend on my original drawing to keep things under control as I go…This is also the stage at which I pay attention to the beginning of the face, to start to develope the character. In this portrait, I want to depict the moment after Salome has danced for King Herod, and has received the head of John The Baptist on a tray. I decided to show her cleaning the blood off the tray, overcome by guilt as she realizes that he spurned her because of his religious beliefs, and that her ego caused the death of a man who did her no disrespect, but merely was true to his principles…So, I know the expression I want her to have, and that will start to emerge very shortly…
NEXT: Salome emerges…The painting of her face, and the beginning of the final skin tones… 