Painting St Stephen: Hair and Face
In this tutorial we will continue painting the icon of St Stephen. In Part 1 we painted his garments and now we will be painting his hair and face.
Face Proplasmos | Hair Proplasmos and 1st Grapsimo
Face Proplasmos
We cover the face, hair and hands in the same proplasmos make from yellow ochre, mars red and black. We paint a second layer on the face, but not the hair.
Hair Proplasmos and 1st Grapsimo
We make the first grapsimo with mars red and a little black to create a brown colour with which we paint in the facial features and hair and build it up in the darker areas, blending into the proplasmos.
2nd Grapsimo
For the 2nd grapsimo we add some black to the 1st and again define the darkest areas and blend into the 1st grapsimo as well as the darker areas of the hair.
3rd Grapsimo
For the 3rd grapsimo we add some black to the 2nd and again define the very darkest areas, this time without blending into the 2nd.
Darkest Details
We then add some more black for the fine lines on the eyebrows, the upper eyelids, the pupils of the eyes and the nostrils.
1st Hair Photisma
For the 1st Hair Photisma we take some of the face proplasmos and add some yellow ochre and a touch of white and we build up the forms of the hair.
2nd Hair Photisma
We add more yellow ochre and a touch of white to the 1st Hair Photisma and we break down the forms within the 1st Photisma. We don’t take this photismata all the way into the darkest areas as that will flatten the form, We are trying to create the sense of volume with the light.
3rd Hair Photisma
Here we again add some more yellow ochre and a touch of white to the 2nd photisma. We break down the forms within the 2nd photisma only in the lightest areas of the broader side of the face.
1st Flesh
The 1st Flesh is made with yellow ochre and white. You can also add a touch of mars red. We start building up the forms of the face and blending out into the proplasmos.
Cool Glaze
We paint a diluted glaze made of yellow ochre, white and a touch of black on the lightest parts. It forms a cool transition from the proplasmos with the 1st flesh. The cool colour also helps project this side of the face out towards the viewer.
2nd Flesh
The 2nd flesh is made with the 1st flesh and white. It is built up within the 1st flesh slowly building up the volume of the forms.
Warm Glaze | 3rd Flesh
Warm Glaze
The warm glaze is made with diluted mars red and yellow ochre and painted on the darker side of the face creating a transition between the 1st flesh and the proplasmos. It is also painted on the lower lip, the eyelids, and cheeks It is the contrast between the warm and cool glazes that brings the flesh tones to life.
3rd Flesh
The 3rd flesh is made with the addition of white to the 2nd and is built up with in the 2nd.
1st Psymithia
The first psymithia are made with 3rd proplasmos and white and are painted rhythmically in the lightest areas.
2nd Psymithia and Final Details
The 2nd and final psymithia are pure white and are painted within the 1st psymithia only in the very lightest areas only on the lighter side of the face so that it projects out.
Then we take some red ochre and paint it on the upper lip, the tear ducts, on the darker side of the nose and face.
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