How to Block-in Dark Values on Chiaroscuro Acrylic

How to layer and blend acrylic paint for depth

When creating a chiaroscuro painting, one of the most critical steps is blocking in the dark values. This technique emphasizes the contrast between light and dark, producing dramatic lighting and depth. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to apply dark tones strategically using acrylics, helping you to achieve a balanced and realistic portrayal. By following along, you’ll understand the key methods for effectively handling dark values to improve your paintings.

Materials and Paint Mixtures for Blocking-In

Before diving into the process, it’s important to prepare the correct materials. In this tutorial, we’ll be using a mix of raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna. The combination of these colors allows for the creation of rich, dark tones. When mixed together, these shades form the ideal hues for blocking in the shadows that define the chiaroscuro technique.

Make sure to have these materials ready:

• Raw Umber Dark
• Ultramarine Blue
• Burnt Sienna
• Alizarine Crimson (optional for richness)
• Flat Brushes in Various Sizes
• Matte Medium

Step 1: Preparing the Dark Values

To begin with, mix raw umber dark and ultramarine blue on your palette, aiming for a deep and cool-toned black. Add a touch of burnt sienna to warm up the mixture slightly. This blend serves as the base for your dark values.

Tip:

For added richness, you can include a hint of alizarine crimson. This will introduce subtle depth to your shadows, making them more visually dynamic.

Once your color is mixed, load your brush and ensure you have enough paint to cover large sections of the painting.

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Start by using a larger flat brush to block in the darkest areas of your subject. These shadows define the structure of your composition and help establish the dramatic lighting that is key to chiaroscuro. Use a bold, confident stroke to apply the dark paint, particularly in the background areas or where the deepest shadows fall.

Technique Tip:

Apply the paint in diagonal strokes for a smoother finish. As acrylic dries quickly, you’ll need to blend while the paint is still wet. Thin the paint with matte medium if needed to increase translucency, ensuring smoother transitions between values.

Step 3: Cutting Around the Edges

When working around detailed parts of the painting, such as the subject’s clothing or hair, switch to a smaller brush for precision. Carefully “cut” around these areas, making sure the dark values don’t intrude on the lighter portions of the painting.

This step is crucial for maintaining the balance between hard and soft edges, which enhances the realism of your artwork.

Technique Tip:

Leave a slight gap where highlights will go later. This will help prevent overlapping, which can muddy the dark tones. If you make a mistake, don’t worry—you can fix it with additional layers later.

Step 4: Balancing Opacity and Transparency

As you apply the dark paint, consider how opaque or translucent you want the layer to be. More opaque paint will create stronger contrasts, while translucent layers help smooth out transitions. Then, gradually build up to a fully opaque black background or shadow as you work.

Technique Tip:

If your paint dries unevenly or too quickly, but you use a perpendicular brush stroke to avoid digging into the surface. When you hold the brush lightly and ease the pressure as you near the top of the stroke, creating a smooth, seamless gradient.

Step 5: Smoothing Out the Dark Layers

Once you’ve blocked in the major dark areas, take time to smooth out any rough patches. Use a soft, diagonal stroke to blend between different tones. Work from dark to light, gradually using less paint as you move into the lighter areas of the painting. This smooth transition is essential for maintaining the realistic feel of chiaroscuro.

Technique Tip:

If areas become choppy or uneven, apply another layer of paint. To avoid this, maintain consistent brush pressure and direction.

Step 6: Enhancing the Richness of Shadows

To add more depth to your painting, apply additional layers of dark values where needed. For example, you might deepen the shadows on fabric folds or darken areas behind your subject. A careful balance of hard edges and soft transitions will bring out the three-dimensionality of your work.

Incorporating subtle shifts between cooler and warmer dark tones—achieved by adjusting your mix with ultramarine blue or burnt sienna—further enhances the richness of the shadows.

Achieving Contrast in Chiaroscuro Painting

Blocking in dark values is a vital component of creating a successful chiaroscuro painting. Then, by using a balanced mixture of raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna, and applying it with precision and confidence, you can build the dramatic contrast needed for a striking and realistic result. Also, always, remember to carefully blend your strokes, maintain a balance between soft and hard edges, and layer your paint for added depth.

With practice, these techniques will help you master chiaroscuro acrylic painting, giving your portraits a sense of realism and intensity that captivates viewers.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

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Read more about how to paint a portrait that you can surely be proud of!

 

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