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!!

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