The second highlight of the flesh

The second highlight has to accentuate the clearest zones and merge with the precedent layer. Compared with the previous highlight, the zones with high density of pigments are progressively reduced. This cannot be seen on the illustrations because we extended some water/egg all around the areas we have previously painted, and this gives the illusion that the second highlight is as wide as the first one. But it is the density of pigments that is stronger in these places... at the top of the cheeks or on the chin, for example.

The way of applying the puddle is determinant for obtaining a progressive gradation of colour. Besides, we always have to pull the pigments towards the most highlighted areas...

The mixture for the second highlight is composed of pure yellow ochre with a touch of vermilion red, but you have to adjust the colour according to the previous layers. To do this, we always try the mixture on the small zones of the face such as the ears or nose... we let it dry and evaluate the force of the highlight. Then we adjust the colour adding more ochre or red or white to the mixture...

The faces

After the main parts of the faces are done, you have to work on the details of the eyes - the upper eyelid, the lower eyelid, the corner of the eye; and also the lower lip (the upper lip is not highlighted).

After floating let dry and stump.

Stumping

After the application of puddles, let dry completely and stump with a 1/1 mixture of emulsion and water. If needed, brush with some "dry" colour the areas that lack enough pigment, let dry and stump delicately.

Stumping requires patience and self control: do not pass the brush filled with emulsion, successively, over the same place more than three or four times. If you do so, holes can appear…it is better to work on another place and return later...