Hi Morgan, question: When you're talking about the medium, ie the little jar in the video, is that the mixture of walnut oil and gamsol? If yes, what is the ratio of walnut to gamsol? And also, the pure walnut oil for brush cleaning: do you dip/clean your brush every time you're going for a different color, or rather use several brushes? I would greatly appreciate your answers -- thank you.... And thank you for sharing your knowledge in this course.

Attempt 1

Hi Morgan, Dark values, a little hard to see be because of original charcoal sketch.

not sure about the ear area. I am sure refinement will be coming!

Hi Morgan 🙋‍♀️ I have a quick question about the medium you are using in the video lesson „separating lights and shadows: Dark values“. You mentioned that you use pure walnut oil but, I suppose, it is for cleaning the brush only, not as a medium to make the oil paint more fluid while you are laying in your darks, right? If so, what non or less toxic medium would you recommend for this stage? Can we use walnut alkyd? Thank you for your help!

Dark values

Putting in the dark values.

Hello, here’s my take. I almost finished the painting but i will upload my process steps here. Thanks Morgan for this great class, I was excited every morning to do the next lesson!

I used a combo of the average shadow and the darkest dark. Does this look ok? Thank you and Merry Christmas!!

coming to this course from more of a figure background where faces scare me! This is an excellent course and feeling way better about approaching portraiture.

Resubmitting to the correct spot. (I guess).

This is literally the first time I have ever touched oils and I may have touched acrylics once in the passed. Quite daunting at first, but enjoying the process. i may have made my shadow tone a little lighter than I would of liked. I added a little ivory black as I was going for the hair. Hope that’s ok? Intuitive as I was going. shapes, squint, average, simple runs through my head. thanks

Started blocking it in with the saturated average shadow colour, but then decided to go with the desaturated average shadow colour so I can use more saturated tones in the light side. Darker accent mix used for the the inner ear, under nose and jaw.

I had lots of trouble trying to separate the shadows inside the ear the way you did, but otherwise I think it went okay.

Ethan with the darks applied; I already know I messed up the ear and will have to redo it...both from a shape perspective as well as using the correct dark value in the deeper shadows. I might have some drawing. areas in the shirt area as well. Why don't you use the average shadow color on the mustache area? BTW, I admire the fact that your clothes have no oil paint on them....a bit tricky keeping my work area and myself clean LOL

Hard to get a good photo of the colours, weird lighting. I hope this is alright, my study is in gouache.