The Art of the Portrait
The Art of the Portrait One of the most challenging subject matters, in my opinion, is the human face. The multitude of colors found in the flesh is as diverse as all the colors found in this world. Combine that with the tiny details of wrinkles and freckle and the intricacy of the major features and you have a feat that can have you lost for years. I fine myself asking on several occasions through the process... is it done yet, or shall I go further? How realistic do I want to go? Should it look like paint or should it look photorealistic? If its going to push photorealism why not just take a picture and print it. So yes I fine portraits to be a challenge... but a challenge well rewarded when I feel I have gotten it right. I typically start my paintings by laying an under painting that is either a neutral ground or something that is bright and opposite of what I am painting. I suppose the base of my paintings depends on my mood or I discovered a color that gives a resu