Vigilant

This is an oil painting of mine. You clearly see the brushwork and can follow my approach in bringing it together. You’ll see the fun I had doing it.

A. Forehead flat-ish with slight curves that are extremely important. Soft turns into light, unlike other light areas of this face.

B. The light-colored hat gives a nice contrast to the slightly toned-down features of the gentleman. True values in paintings are important for all the variables.

C. There is always more to eyebrows than simply painting them in. They also coordinate with the turns of forehead and eye sockets. Here you see them appear and fade.

D. These eyes have simple strokes to bring them to life. But we must get them accurate. The light area here is one deft stroke. Take the time and get it right.

E. Even with a lifelike three-dimensional appearance, I often use direct flat brushstrokes. This cheekbone has three flat values: light media and dark.

F. Nose area is flat color/value with highlight. Same value with nostrils. You can see that value/color is throughout other features.

G. The dark behind his left cheek slightly lightens the value and structure of that jaw area.

H. A mouth is not just upper and lower lips. It varies all waking hours with dips and turns, lights and shadows; adding immensely to character.

I. The light area on chin is toned down from the other lights. Most important. We don’t want a feasting of same highlights throughout a face. There are slight differences that we observe and follow.

J. This shadow is not so dark that we can’t see subtle forms in neck.