Portrait Progression

I thought it could be fun to reveal a bit of my thought process and technique while doing a portrait.  If you have any questions about what I do or about painting portraits etc, I'd be happy to answer them! 

During a recent commission, I decided to take a few photos to document my progress. I used a different process for this painting. Usually I develop the whole painting bit by bit and layer by layer to create a unified color scheme and style, but for this project I decided to just focus on one area at a time. 

This can be dangerous if you haven't figured out your proportions yet, so I did a preliminary under-drawing to make sure I could have accurate proportions. I also made a conscious effort to make sure the piece was staying unified in color and texture. To help with that I mixed most of my colors before starting the painting. This allowed me to use the same colors throughout the painting, keeping it unified.

It was fun to see the stark contrast of the white contour drawing and the vivid color painting. It created a mysterious effect.  Part of me wished I could just keep it at certain stages. Each stage brought a different feel and psychological element to the painting.

I really enjoyed being able to just focus all of my efforts on one area. It made it easier to do a good job and to not get overwhelmed in the process, extending my focus and patience. It is easy to lose your proportions and planes (that three-dimensional aspect) if you haphazardly put in layers without real focus and attention to paint strokes and shading. The painting can become sloppy. Different clients like different styles of painterliness (hoping that is a word... haha) and visible brushstrokes. This client seemed like they would enjoy something more along the lines of realism instead of expressionistic. 

I finished by completing the shirt, the hair and the background. Those three parts of the portrait painting always seem to come around last. I guess you could say I like to eat my dessert first :) .  I just love the challenge of creating skin tones and the amazing experience of seeing the eyes come alive. It makes me feel like I'm helping to share the beauty of the person. Catching an expression is what keeps me coming back to portraiture. 

I don't think I'll ever get sick of drawing and painting people. There's just something about that moment when you realize you've got it right, and they're staring back at you. It is so hard to get to that point. One eighth of an inch can make that difference of whether or not you've "captured them" or if you're painting a portrait of someone who just looks like them. 

I'm starting to schedule in my portraits for Christmas. The process of commissioning a portrait can take several weeks so don't wait too long if you're interested. I'd love to do a painting for you or a family member. Contact me through commenting on this blog, on facebook, or you can email me at arpartworks@gmail.com. I also have a blog dedicated to my art. Feel free to take a peek if you'd like, it is annapetersonartist.blogspot.com.