Emi as Persephone
 

This oil is 82X68. I thought I had posted it already but couldn't find it. We devote a whole CDROM to its creation from start to finish including the linen stretching etc.

http://www.timothyctyler.com/InstructionalArtBooks.html

The formal title is "The Birth of Winter".

Tim,
This painting is very beautiful. Your strokes are much finer and your works are now more realistics than before. I admire your works so much.
Happy painting,
Xander

Pre-mixing
 

Xander, I found my main flesh tones and pre-mixed three large tubes; a light skin color, a middle and a dark rich one. These were just base mixes which of course I had to adjust considerably, but having these custom- mades colors handy was very helpful on the very large work. Most of the skin was done in only 3 layers/coats.

I think the size of this work can be misleading as to texture. The lower rocks for example are very chunky and thick. Kim, did you see this in person?

Thanks again everyone, Tim

Tim, you mean to say that you pre-mix a large amount of colors and you also preserve it for the next session? But how would you keep or preserve the freshness of the colors? you put in a tube also or jars?

Xander

Tubes yes
 

Yes you just buy empty tubes. If you can figure out how to fill them without making a huge mess let me know...it's a yucky job. It saves you time in the long run.

Okay I will. May i know what your color combination is when it comes to flesh tones? What i mean is that colors you mixed and put in the tube. You said there are 3, the light, the mid and the dark. So what combinations are these? I'd like to experiment on it.
Xander

Humm...
 

I'll have to guess. I mix all colors per my subject and it's been a while. I'd say. White, cadmium light red, cadmium yellow light, mars orange, Van Dyke brown and maybe a pinch of Raw sienna. These in differing mixes with give you tons of color. I mixed the middle tone-then made a lighter version and a duller. darker version in batches about the size of small lemons.

Tim,
Thank you for that tip. Happy painting.
"Xander"

Tim, an idea for filling tubes. Try scraping your paint into a large "baggie," cut a corner off and pipe it into the tube.
Debra

I just saw this post. I saw this one in person when you were still working on it Tim. I did not see the rocks finished, but the skin - whoa. I stood with my nose up to her knees and toes and they were just so marvelous. Very real - just like being nose to skin. These photos do not even come close to the beauty and subtle shifts of color.