I am still struggling to find the right lens set up in my glasses since cataract surgery. And then, there is this vertigo! But, I picked up a pair of reading glasses at the pharmacy which were OK until I had to look away from the painting!
So here is what I accomplished in spite of all that. I worked on eyes, teeth, hair and another more opaque layer on the background! I love it when a portrait says, ‘yep!’ Now I better check on dinner so I don’t burn it! Hugs and have fun painting. Diana

Here is Colton. I will probably do one or two more layers of flesh, then glazes to adjust the pink/reds. Then hair and finish the shirt. The gums, teeth and eyes. Clients have no idea what it takes to do these portraits. I just couldn’t slap it onto the canvas and call it quits. My goal is to express the artful representation of this soul. I’m thinking another layer on the background too. I have been dealing with vertigo for over a week now. And I still don’t have glasses that Work well. It is a little discouraging. Well, I get to see my students soon. That will pick me up. I hope you can enjoy a cozy rest of your winter. Diana

It may not seem like much but this subtle layer takes the portrait to a better place! In this reference, there are heavy shadows. I want them to be there, yet, not so predominate. I began with a transparent layer of flesh, then sculpted with white and Naples yellow. The subtle difference is that I toned down the heavy shadows with the same sculpting colors. Always try to follow the flow of the light. Today, I also added the first layer of flesh to my mother and baby since parts of it had not received this layer. These skin tones will need to be quite pink. That will come in successive layers. I also added a primatura layer to a canvas that is 38 x 48”. That is a step that takes a lot of energy and patience. Needless to say, we had soup for supper. I may not post for a few days. Enjoy your families. Hugs, Diana

I have yet to add several more layers of flesh but since yesterday’s work is not dry, I worked first on the stripes of his shirt, then added more definition to the hair. I wanted to do some of the blonde color but it just wouldn’t work out, so I mixed some yellow ochre with some flesh and then some of my neutral dark (ultra marine blue and burnt umber). The color I got is a good dark blonde. I had no trouble getting the patterns of hair loosely in place. Also, I had shaded the bottom teeth and added a few light lashes and brows. They will dry and won’t be lost when I add another layer of flesh on top. I got a little color on the shirt besides the stripes. I wasn’t expecting to spend the entire afternoon on this but with a few phone calls, the day has flown by. I am happy this is turning out well. I will begin his brother and sister soon. I have all my grandchildren done except for two who live out of state. I am working on several other works too. I hope my posts are beneficial to novice portrait painters. Yesterday I came upon some documentation from a student of William Adolph Bouguereau. He describes Bouguereau’s method and I have always thought he used the indirect method. This verify’s my guess. I printed the three pages so my class can see it. To anyone who sees this blog, please subscribe and pass it on to other artists. I would like this info to be available to them. Thanks! Have a blessed day. Diana

I always want my portraits to come out well. Sometimes it seems so easy. Other times, not so much. I was not pleased with the one I did of his brother and so I will begin that again as soon as I finish this. I chose much better images. Both have a lot of sunlight. Also, they are showing their best smiles. The format is twelve by sixteen. That is close to life size. I will do quite a few more layers of flesh and maybe one more on the background. Photos always seem like X-rays so they don’t show the true surface. I wish I knew how to fix that. Today, I also worked on a large painting that I began about a year ago. Time goes so fast. In that time I did several very small paintings. I am still having trouble seeing well. I can’t get lenses that are as helpful as what I had before the cataract surgery. That is frustrating because the doctor assured me it would be better or at least as good, and it is not.. anyway, This is one of my series of mountain stream paintings. Almost the entire background is waterfall. Little bubbling brook waterfalls. I really enjoy painting these even though I cannot seem to paint a landscape without a portrait in front of the landscape. I’m feeling like I want to spend more time painting and less time doing other stuff. I even told my doctor to limit tests to the very most important ones. I don’t like to be cold but winter gives me time to hibernate and get mor art done. I am doing a very large format painting of one of my daughters. The drawing is a real challenge.so, for now, that is my update. Enjoy your art efforts. I am so thankful for this. Apt TMH. Hugs, Diana