Final photo of finished portrait

 It’s done and waxed. Just have the framing to complete.

Sonny - finished

 I’m calling this done. Two final washes of colour on the skin tones and I signed it. This isn’t a good photo. It’s very dark and cloudy today. I’ll post a better one when I have it.

Sonny - step 15

 This morning I worked on very fine details all over the face.I think I’m ready to start the final overall washes. I’ll wait one day to make sure I’m happy with it first.

Sonny - step 14

 I worked mostly on the nose and a little on the eyes. I also added another wash on the background to correct some issues with it. The paper looks wrinkled because it stretches when it’s wet.

Sonny - step 13

 I joined yesterday’s and today’s progress together because the changes are too small to be noticeable but each one works toward a closer resemblance. It’s still all about working out values on the face.

Sonny - step 12

 This morning I only was able to work an hour because the paper became too wet. It needs to dry a few hours. 

This is the careful and slow part. I have to check on the values that they are light enough or dark enough and they are all in the right places. It involves putting on colour and shaping it into the right areas. Once all the values are right then I’ll correct the overall colour.

Sonny - step 11

 I did a couple of touch ups on the shadows on the shirt but spent most of the time on the face. I’m blocking in light and dark values. It looks strange because I have to go back and lighten some and darken others but it got too wet to work with any farther. I’m still far from details. 

This photo looks a little wonky. I’ll get a better one tomorrow.

Sonny - step 10

 Today was focused on starting to block in the values on the face. Slow going to make sure all the shadows are in the right place. They will get darker with future washes.

Sonny - step 9

 This morning was all about the shirt. I didn’t want it photorealistic, just the feel of the shirt with enough detail to be believable. The final step was scary. A grey wash over the whole shirt to unify all the colours and dull them so the focus will be on the face. I’ll start working on that next.

Sonny - step 8

 Another couple of hours work on this. I’ve started lightly blocking out value changes in the face, darkening shadows in the shirt, and started darkening the colours in the shirt to their final colour. It’s hard to get a good photo with the relatively white face compared to the rest.

Sonny - step 7

 Another 1 1/2 hours work this morning. I find I can only work that long at a stretch and then need a break. I worked awhile on adjusting the eyes which weren’t right. I also worked a little on the hair and a bit of shading on the face. I also started blocking in where the shadows are going to be on the shirt. Still a long way to go.

Sonny - step 6

 Another two hours work on this today. More time on the shading around the eyes, and a wash over the whole face, but most of the time was spent on adding the black and light grey parts of the plaid shirt. These colours are to just plot where everything goes so I don’t make a mistake when going darker and then adding shadows.

Sonny - step 5

 I was only able to work 1 1/2 hours on this today. I was working on the plaid shirt pattern and almost went cross-eyed. It looks funny right now because it’s still missing a light and dark grey, black, and white. The main colour of each square or stripe will be blocked in first then I’ll add the shading for the folds in the shirt and shadows. I also put another wash on the background.

Sonnet - step 4

 I had a couple of hours this morning to work on this. I started blocking in light and dark values on the face, did another layer on the background, and started figuring out the pattern on the shirt. I struggled with the plaid getting confuse so I’ve figured out a different method for next time.

Sonny step 3

 I only had an hour to paint this morning and then life got in the way this afternoon to get back to it. But I’m finding my itch to paint is coming back and I can’t wait to do more. 

Today I softened any hard edges from yesterday’s wash, added another wash on the background (it will end up grey when finished), and started working out the mid-tone values on the plaid shirt. The first washes are just finding the pattern and will be followed by darker values.

Sonny step - 3

 I’m finally back to working on this. I only have about a month to get it finished so there will be more frequent updates.

I added another layer of colour on the background. I’m not sure what the final colour will be. I think a warm grey but that may change as the portrait is worked on. I put a wash over the skin colour and the shirt. This just covers the intimidating white paper and let’s me see where everything goes. It’s just the first washes and very rough.

Sonny - step2

 I’ve finished the detailed drawing of his eyes which look strange right now because I’ve outlined every large value change. Everything will look better once painted. I’ve also put on the first wash of colour in the background. It will get many layers ending with a greyish colour but I wanted texture and movement I it. Covering the white background makes it less intimidating to start the portrait part.

I think I forgot to mention the size. It’s 16x 20”.

Wilfred “Sonny” Hansen - Step 1

 I am joining our local art club for an exhibition in December. It is our clubs 75th anniversary so we decided the theme of the show is “Honouring Our Past”. I decided to paint a portrait of my grandfather who was a geologist at the Hollinger Gold Mine for most of his career.

The most difficult decision was whether to paint this in watercolour or oils. I decided to use watercolour because of the ease of just sitting down to work with minimal effort and quick cleanup. It is also the medium I have used since I started painting. I am still exploring oils and the result might not be what I envisioned.

I started by wrapping watercolour paper (Fabriano Artistico 140 lb) around a primed canvas. The canvas provides extra strength and structure. I drew out his portrait from an old black and white image. I still have a few adjustments to make on the eyes to get them just right. The rest of the face isn’t done in detail. I sketch out enough to get the proportions right and note changes in value that are important. All the rest of the details are added as I paint. I already know the plaid shirt is going to cause some extra thought.

The image is hard to see but it will get easier as I progress.