Painting Chris Martin docx

Painting Chris Martin





Step 1
This pose came straight from a still
frame of the Coldplay Live 2003
DVD. I sketched the outline onto
the canvas in pencil, then blocked
in the main areas of colour. The
figure and piano contain no
blending at this stage, but I wanted
to get the background right early
on. The coloured lights were
difficult to paint, I first laid down
the tones in grayscale, then applied
the colours in a thin wash.


Step 2
Here I added the reflection detail to
the piano, painted in the basic
colours of the camera and
microphone, then worked on the
flesh tones, added layers with
various mixes of white, burnt sienna
and yellow ochre. Burnt umber and
black were added for the darker

areas under the wrists. Note that the
back of the head contains a lot of
red due to the reflected light.

Step 3
Mainly working on the face, the
flesh tones are blended with the
darker shadows, the details of eyes,
nose, ears and mouth are
emphasised with a fine brush, and
more yellow is added to the flesh
tone to give more depth. I started to
add thin crimson washes to the
black jacket to show the reflected
red light, which is also being built
up on the back of the head and
around the ear.

Step 4
The flesh tones are now blended
nicely, so I add highlights and
reflected red light to the jacket.
More detail is added to the
microphone and camera, and the
painting starts to near completion.

Step 5
The finishing touches are added.
Details on the face, the writing on
the piano, and some final colour

washes are applied. Note the red
"glow" on the back of the head and
jacket, showing the reflected red
light. Don't be afraid to apply
colour where it is needed, because
you don't think it should be there.
You know he doesn't have red hair,
but on a stage with coloured lights,
very little is left in its original
colour.