I use a flat brush using mostly short, brisk strokes and I soften the harsh edges with my finger.

Now I have mixed some crimson, cadmium yellow and skin tone base (Matisse acrylic paint, light skin tone) with a little white to deepen the shadow areas with a gorgeous orange.

Note: rule of mixing paint. I learned that keeping the colour mixing to a minimum will ensure clean, crisp colours. I try never to mix more than three colours together to ensure beautiful and clean colours.

In step 7 I have deepened the orange in the strongest shadow areas.

Always keep in mind the light source that you are working with. I have kept to the light source I chose for this painting which is cool light and warm shadow. Because the shadow area is warm that's where the deepest concentration of warm to hot shades will be.