Paintings, Portraits

Verdaccio portrait, the underpainting

I am currently experimenting a portrait technique used by the Old Masters, called verdaccio. Basically it consists of an underpainting in tones of green (Terra Verde) serving to locate and render the highlights and shadows of the portrait in the most accurate manner, over which it would be applied the final layer of paint in the actual colors of the flesh.

This is a self portrait, and the first painting I’ve done in this technique. I’m happy with it, so far.

Work in progress

Oils on stretched canvas, 40 x 40 cm

Underpainting for a verdaccio self-portrait. Oils on stretched canvas, 40x40 cm
Underpainting for a verdaccio self-portrait

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