This 12 × 18 self-portrait began not with paint, but as a charcoal drawing directly on canvas. To secure the drawing and prepare the surface, I scraped on a 2:2:1 mixture of Indian Yellow : Flake White : Venetian Medium (Rublev) using a large palette knife. This sealing layer both locked in the charcoal and suffused the canvas with a warm transparency. At this stage, lines could be selectively lost, dark masses blended back into atmosphere, and the texture of the canvas weave allowed to catch light and shimmer. After a day’s drying, I introduced a complementary Dioxazine Purple to the dark passages, gently fanning it into the midtones. Onto this foundation, Flake White was modeled into the lights, applied to both figure and ground. Although a traditional scumble is laid over a completely dry surface, I worked a “quasi-scumble” while still slightly wet — the white mixing with touches of purple, softening edges and carrying atmosphere into the form.
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