Determining a palette is very important for me before I start adding color washes. For this piece I knew I wanted to use a limited base palette of Green Umber, Raw Umber, Paynes Grey, Titanium White, and for the fox, Old Holland's Red Gold Lake. To thin the paint, I used Gamblin's Solvent-Free Fluid. (Remember to observe fat over lean! If you use too much oil, it will bead up on the surface.)
All of the base colors are applied in light layers. I like to keep the pencil lines visible to act as a guide as I build color. This step helps me determine the mood of the painting as well. Having a strong foundation will help me in subsequent steps, and makes the detailing process much easier for me. After I apply my base colors, I set the painting aside to dry. I need the painting to be dry because I like to drybrush in my shadows and highlights, and this works much better of a completely dry foundation.
STEP 3: PAINTING FUR