For this drawing in paint exercise, I used diluted raw umber to draw shapes of the figure. I added a touch of cobalt blue to the mixture and outlined the negative shapes. Once dried I applied a thin wash of sepia over the figure, and a thin wash of umber and cobalt blue with a touch of yellow, to the negative shapes.

Adding a bit of medium to slow the drying time, I blocked in the darkest shadows with umber. For the highlights on the subject, I used some of the initial wash of sepia with flake white. Because the paint was still wet, I was able to easily blend the shadows and highlights, creating more mid tones. For the outlining negative structures and shapes, I used a mix of the umber/ cobalt blue/ yellow wash with medium and flake white. I then blended them the darkest and lightest areas.

I did have issues with paint dripping as I worked on this. Eventually, I laid the canvas on a flat surface. I was fortunate enough to have good natural lighting that day. My model was quite uncomfortable on the hard floor. Because of his understandable shyness at being nude, I draped a blanket partially over him. I appreciate how patient he was with me. I found I already had great tonal values here without applying a grey scale.