A CLASSICAL PAINTING DEMONSTRATION W i l l i a m W h i t a k e r
Stage I
I took this photo at the end of the first painting session. With neither face nor hands to slow me down, I was able to bring it this far pretty easily. Given the Ingres*#45;like neck and back, I decided to give it the classical treatment. I took special care because I want the painting to look "finished" at every stage.
I used both sables and filbert bristles. I blended with an old worn sable.
I'm painting this on a 12 x 9 inch linen canvas stained a grey tone mode of ultramarine blue and raw umber that I thinned with a mixture of 90% turpentine and 10% Graham Walnut/Alkyd painting medium. I rubbed it down with a rag to achieve the value I wanted. My favourite brown is Gamblin's asphaltum and I used it for the darks. I mixed just a little walnut/alkyd medium into the paint pile to make it a little more supple and sensitive and to help it dry faster. I used Old Holland Cremnitz white mixed with just a dab of raw sienna for my lights. I also worked a little walnut/alkyd medium into the paint.
I'll put it aside and let it dry and take it up again the day after tomorrow and start in with colour.
