The ligand picolinic acid was studied with Cd-II and Pb-II by differential pulse polarography (DPP) at fixed total ligand (L-T) to total metal (M-T) concentration ratios, varied pH at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of mu = 0.1 and 0.5 mol dm(-3). The corrected peak potential of an uncomplexed metal ion E-p(M-Free) is defined for the first time and used, instead of experimentally available value, to evaluate the shift in the peak potential. The polarographic experimental and calculated complex formation curves (ECFC and CCFC) were used for modeling of the metal-ligand systems and the refinement of stability constants. It has been shown that with the use of the corrected value of E-p(M-Free) together with the ECFC and CCFC it is possible to reproduce values of stability constants obtained by glass electrode potentiometry. Three cadmium complexes CdL, CdL2 and CdL3 and their stability constants as log beta found from DPP mu = 0.1 mol dm(-3) 4.34 +/- 0.04, 8.01 +/- 0.04, 10.79 +/- 0.03, and at mu = 0.5 mol dm(-3) 4.29 +/- 0.03, 7.89 +/- 0.03, 10.49 +/- 0.02, respectively, are reported. Four lead complexes PbL, PbL2, PbL3 and PbL2(OH) and their stability constants as log beta found from DPP at mu = 0.5 mol dm(-3) 4.49 +/- 0.02, 7.58 +/- 0.03, 9.59 +/- 0.02 and 11.46 +/- 0.03, respectively, are reported. All stability constants at mu = 0.5 mol dm(-3) and two lead complexes PbL3 and PbL2(OH) are reported for the first time, whereas the formation of the complex CdL3 has been confirmed by DPP. Results obtained in this work are compared with the Literature data.