shadowed beard

Grandma

I am painting a face that is all in shadow from the upper lip down. The beard is white. When I try to paint the white beard in shadow the beard starts looking like it is a grey beard, not a shadowed white beard. Help please! My photo is a not very good black and white one and no possibility of getting a color photo.

sue_deutscher

Grandma, what colors are you using to make the shadow in the beard?

mrking

It's all about temperature. If the scene is lit with cool light, add warmth tot he shadows. Vise versa for warm light. That should help your issue.

Post a photo of your painting so we can help you better.

Grandma

I am painting the beard in light greys made from payne's grey and flake white warmed by burnt umber. EVERY color I have tried to add to creat shadow has failed to look right.
I suppose the scene is lit with every light I decide to choose on, as the black and white photo is old and there is no telling what was used.

sue_deutscher

I can only tell you what I would do which may not be the best advice but what I would do is mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue and lighten to the desired value. Then I would throw a few white highlights of the hairs in the shadow area.

Grandma

Thank you.

sue_deutscher

You are most welcome.

beardplans

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beardplans

A boy’s first shave was more than his transition into manhood, it was reason for some serious celebration. In gloomy times, such as disaster or death, beards were grown in sorrow. The opposite of what’s commonly seen today with men shaving before funerals.