"Wild" Bill Hickok - Digital Painting

This digital painting was created in Photoshop with a Wacom Intuos 4 and is the first in a series of famous people from the Old West on which I'm currently working.

"Self Portrait Study in Hat" charcoal and white chalk on toned paper

"Self Portrait in Glasses" charcoal and white chalk on toned paper

"Ashley" charcoal and white chalk on vellum.

Finished Self Portrait

After painting the topmost layer, the portrait is finished.  I have re-established the relationships between the darks and lights in this final stage.  After a few months, the painting will be varnished to unify the gloss and deepen all the color.

Under-painting Stage 2

Using a mixture of Flake White, Ivory Black and Raw Umber, I further describe the darks and lights being sure to relate them to the planes of the face.  I leave this stage to dry before beginning the top coat.

Under-painting

The first phase of the under-painting is complete.  I have established the most important lights and darks that will serve as the skeleton when building the body of the painting.