A Young Lady

As I continue to work with watercolor in my year-long commitment to paint, I occasionally challenge myself to try a portrait, which is considerably more nerve-wracking than drawing plants or even some animals. A branch or twig can be in the wrong place and no one would notice. Put the nose in the wrong place and you might as well start over. Some day soon I’ll try a watercolor portrait from life, after I’ve practiced a bit with photos. This young lady’s photo was offered up for experimentation on wet canvas, and I enjoyed the time I spent with her.
I didn’t take the time to paint the background this time, as my objective was really to experiment with flesh tones and to try to get somewhat of a likeness.

Comments

1. 

   endment
   May 26, 2006

   Can’t speak about a likeness but you certainly have a lovely portrait – she simply glows

2. 

   Hashi
   May 26, 2006

   Wow Karen! You’ve really captured it … the eyes are fabulous!

3. 

   TeriC
   May 26, 2006

   Fantastic Karen! It looks wonderful!

4. 

   Toni
   May 26, 2006

   I admire your tenacity to paint every day.
   Karen you are better than what you think.

5. 

   Rissa
   May 26, 2006

   Wow, that looks great to me. You have done a great job committing to the whole process. I am very impressed.

6. 

   Roberto Bobrow
   May 26, 2006

   Everything is in its place, you have nothing to be afraid of. Real watercolors on real paper have a quality that digital wc can’t mimic. Beautiful.

7. 

   Tami
   May 27, 2006

   I think I might recognize those dimples but am not sure… Great portrait!!!

8. 

   ARVINDH
   May 28, 2006

   You have done a phenomenal job rendering her face!

9. 

   Fran aka Redondowriter
   May 29, 2006

   What a beautiful girl and what a great job you did. I liked the photo and sketch above Angeles Crest at the inn where you went to hear a musician, too. Oh–forgot to comment earlier, Annie Dillard’s Tinker is a wondrous book.

10. 

    Don West
    May 31, 2006

    Likeness is hard to get…but you’ve done a fine job on this. I’m working on likenesses myself and find I simply have to practice.
    Keep it up Karen…you’ve got a future in commission work there.

11. 

    Anastasia
    June 3, 2006

    Both are great portraits Karen!!