STAGE 4

Detailing is done with my liner brush done in layers—working from the “general” overall color/value first then through to the darker and lighter values with impasto to finish. My success has come from my “wet layering” technique with the artist magnifier.

lets you scale up without guessing. Let the sunlight fill the hood and there’s total detail. with different strokes from the 1-inch liner brush, I apply the first general layer. The dry canvas and the warm studio cures it a enough after 10 minutes for the next thin layer, but I leave 30 percent of the previous coat showing through in “gaps.” I advance with more thin layers through to the darkest dark and lightest light at the end where I finish with thick impasto paint on the highlights. The secret is to start with a value that gives you room for two-thirds more values up to the end and leave “gaps.” It’s an orderly, brilliant, simple and wonderfully effective technique. All my figure work is done this way. You can see the multiple thin layers in the detail on the yellow slicker and impasto highlight.