Hi Madison, great question! I didn't for this portrait, but it's a great practice to get into. I find that a chromatic black brings more life and artistry to a portrait, but can make true-to-life portraits from photos more challenging because there's more to think about as you're working on values. One workaround I've learned to use recently is to mix my blacks for the blocking-in process, which means all the resulting greys have more depth, and then go in to the deepest shadows with a lamp black afterwards so I get the greatest range of lights and darks.
Absolutely amazing, thanks for sharing
Quite helpful and soothing 🙂Thnx
Thanks! Glad to hear ^_^
Do you mix a chromatic black?
Hi Madison, great question! I didn't for this portrait, but it's a great practice to get into. I find that a chromatic black brings more life and artistry to a portrait, but can make true-to-life portraits from photos more challenging because there's more to think about as you're working on values.
One workaround I've learned to use recently is to mix my blacks for the blocking-in process, which means all the resulting greys have more depth, and then go in to the deepest shadows with a lamp black afterwards so I get the greatest range of lights and darks.