Donna step 6

Today I worked more on the eyes and then started working in the darker area of skin tones to start sculpting the features more. A long way to go but I can only do a little on the skin at a time and then have to let it dry between.

Finished teaching two workshops

This weekend I was busy teaching two one-day workshops. Lots of work preparing for them so so other projects were temporarily on hold. Here are a few of the results above. No one finished completely. From now on I will only hold two day workshops so we aren't as rushed.

Donna step 5

I added a bluish wash over the background to even it out. I don't know if this is the final colour until I see the portrait part more complete. I brought the blue over part of the hair that is in shadow to start it receeding into the shadow.
I added another layer of pink over her top. I'll have to start picking out highlights in the next step.
I worked mostly on her eyes and started finding the shapes of contours in her skin.

Step 4

I worked on blending the background line that was obvious above the head, added another wash over the ruffle around her neck, and started adding the first washes on her eyes and darker areas of her skin tones. I will now concentrate on her eyes to get them right before I go farther on the rest of the painting. If the eyes aren't right the painting has to be started over so it is best to do them early.

She has bangs but I have to paint the skin underneath before I add them after.

Donna step 3

The next step was to add another wash to the background darkening it even more. After drying I see that there is too much of a distinct line above her head so that will need fixing in the next steps. I added a wash over her whole sweater but it is far from finished as a final colour. I started laying in a dark wash over her hair and a first wash of skin tone. The photo didn't take an accurate picture of the skin or hair. As the skin tones get darker it will be easier to show an accurate photo.

Donna step 2

I started out by adding a second wash of blue/grey over the background. It still will have more washes added. I also started adding a wash to the ruffle on her sweater. I realized that the pearl necklace needed to be masked before I started the skin tone washes so that is what I did next.

Donna - step 1

Finally I can get back to painting after a very hectic summer. This is the first step of a commission that needs to be done in a few weeks. I left it way too long (yet again). I will have to do a lot of work on it in a short time.

I have drawn out the features and put in the first wash in the background. The background is going to be a neutral grey but with blue uneven tones in it. It looks darker here than it is because I wanted to be able to see the line drawing in the photo.