Softening the contrasts of the flesh Once you master it, the puddle technique enables you to obtain a gradual passage between the different flesh tones. Before that, however, whenever you highlight an area, the contrast between that area and the flesh tends to grow and you need to retouch and soften it. This operation requires both skill and, above all, precision. You need to find the right in between colours. A face with strong contrasts or highlight “patches” can become harsh and severe, and sometimes even grotesque. A patient retouching will help you fuse the highlight and the flesh tones and give the face the softness and harmony required.
	The search and preparation of intermediary tints must be carefully done . It is important to test the mixtures before applying them on the board. Because the flesh is slightly greenish, we used a mixture of red ochre, yellow ochre and Veronese green to obtain an intermediary colour between the colour base of the flesh and the peripheral highlight. We first used a clearer colour to increase the homogeneity of the colour at the edge – adding some vermilion red – and then a slightly darker colour – with more green and red ochre – to adjust the base colour of the flesh.
	Apply these nuances very slightly. The colour must be diluted, transparent and without too much emulsion. It should be patiently and lightly applied with a drained brush, almost dry.
	When the intermediary colour is completely dry, you can still adjust it with a mixture of egg / water with quite a dry brush to obtain a beautiful transition of the colours.
Retracing the lines of the flesh Prepare the lining colour with a mixture of burnt Siena and a touch of ultramarine blue and retrace the lines with a dry brush. Be careful, don't be systematic! Use this dark colour for the eyebrows, the eyes, the eyelids, the ear lobe, the lips, the left line – for you – of the nose... but use a mixture of red ochre with a hint of ultramarine blue for the right line of the nose, the circumference of the face, the hands and the feet... You can also draw the fingernails and be ready for the next step. Note that we also applied a layer of yellow ochre with a touch of vermilion red on Christ’s dress to increase its homogeneity and prepare the area for the assist gilding.

	Next step: The final lights, the highlight of the hair and the blue
Click on picture to enlarge...
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