When I paint a portrait I want it to have life and spirit.  I work by instinct not education or knowledge.  The one dimensional painting on a flat surface must have layers in order to ‘come alive.’ You can see here that during this painting of layers an artist must have confidence and insight in order to see past this unfinished condition.  Also it is important to look ahead to the desired skin texture, tone, life and beauty so that the artist knows when to stop.  After all, realism can be taken too far.  I am not trying to achieve perfection but to create a work of art.   (The eyes in this image may look blue but they are simply the unfinished under painting in grisaille.)  I attempt to make the original sketch as correct as possible but I will always be adjusting each feature to perfect the likeness and also the attitude and personality.