"Emalee" Oil Portrait Complete

After six long months...I finally called it quits on this painting. I had so many issues with this painting that I must say I am relieved to move on to my next project. When learning how to's....on a painting that means so much can cause much unwanted stress. This portrait was not a commissioned piece but one I am planning on giving my daughter for a graduation gift. My goal was realism but as you can see it is far from that. I need to get real and realize, realism is not my thing.

Glazing

After a couple weeks, I put this back on my easel to try and create a more realistic piece. I used several glazing applications. I am afraid I have much to learn with this technique.

I believe it helped and I will continue putting several more glazes on hoping it will accomplish what I want!

Will I ever finish...

Another layer added and many more after that. I was not liking the color of my darkest shadow. So I painted over again and again. I also darkened the eyes then lightened them again.

The green background was not doing it for me. I decided to painted over it.

After much frustration, I finally had to put this project to rest in order to come back later with fresh eyes.

Portrait Painting Progress

I have added a few more layers since my last post. I had to darken some of the shadows and darkened the eyes. The eyes and the mouth have been two of my biggest challenges. With each new layer added I feel it is beginning to take shape. There are several more layers I want to add before it becomes complete. I will post more as I progress.

The Layering Continues

Each and every layer creates more depth but it is also creating a change in my subjects face. Not so sure I am liking the transformation.

As the last layer dried it looked a little chalky. I went in and added more warmth and deepened my shadows with a cooler tone.

There is much I have to learn before my painting can be considered "realism"... practice, practice, practice!

I will continue posting my transitions as I complete them.

Hair

Creating the Hair and Highlights

I began by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue to build the base tones of the hair. From there, I layered in the highlights, letting lighter strokes sit softly over the darker foundation.

Hair takes practice—and then more practice—because its believability comes from multiple layers, even in a piece that isn’t fully realistic. This painting isn’t meant to look photographic, but I still wanted the hair to lean toward realism. To push it in that direction, I etched fine strands around the hairline, adding just enough detail to suggest texture and movement while keeping the overall style painterly.

Color block sections 

Add lights for dimension 

Eyes

Eyes are the soul of a painting. Trying to capture your subject's true essence is no small feat!

When I first began my painting the subject's eyes followed me from right to left. Since that time something happened and I lost it.

One of the things I do along my painting journey is photograph each step. It allows me to go back and see what I liked and disliked. Unfortunately, painting does not allow me to select the undo tab and go back. But having past photos of my work can offer insite of what I may have done wrong so that I can fix my "happy mistake"!