This is the next step in the painting process. I added in more depth by adding a bit of blush on her cheeks, neck, and forehead. I added a touch of highlights to her lips and shadowed the darker areas. i still need to finish off the background and then I think it will be done.

I have not been working much on this portrait the last few days as my son is sick. Anyway, check back soon to see how the whole painting turns out.

Okay, here is yet another part of the class. I have painted in the hair but no eyebrows yet. I wanted to do the detailing of the eyes and then paint in the eyebrows. I have detailed the face using Caran d'ache watercolor crayons and water soluble pastels. Here is the image which is still a way from finishing.



Here is a close up of the face.



I still have more detail work to do but here is my WIP as it stands now.

I have transferred the image to a piece of canvas board. I used canvas board because they are relatively inexpensive and if I make a mistake it will be no loss. Anyway, I didn't have any wax-free graphite transfer paper so I used a trick I learned in my art class. I keep the images I am going to use in my sketchbook. I pick an image and then photocopy it. After photocopying, I use an 8B or 4B pencil and color over all the lines on the back of the photocopy (you have to use a light box to see the lines). Once the "scribbling" is done, I place the image on the canvas (scribbling side down) where I would like it. With the image face up, I start outlining the image either using a pencil or a round embossing tool. I usually use a 2B pencil. A word of caution, if you lean on the photocopy image, it may transfer the areas where you were leaning to the canvas. Here is the image copied to the canvas with the face, mouth, and eyes painted in. The eyes are pretty much finished but there is still some detail work to be done on the face.

I just got a book in the mail today and so far it is fabulous. I have always hesitated doing a self-portrait because I don't like my looks. This book is having me look at things a little differently and I highly recommend it. The title of the book is: Mixed-Media Self-Portraits by Cate Coulacos Prato. One of the things that has always fascinated me about self-portraits are those done by Frida Kahlo. I think it is very interesting to compare her portraits by Diego Rivera and Frida's self-portraits. It is interesting to see how she viewed herself and how he viewed her.