Stage two
I have put the first touches to the face, eyes, nose and mouth, I don't want to define the teeth too much as they will look like tombstones.
I have still left the bottom of the portrait unpainted for now as I still need to carry it without smudging the wet paint.

The face looks a little pink so I will do a little more work on that, also the eyes are a little startling at the moment, I think I need to tone the colour down and bring some black into the iris.

A new month and a new painting, I have gone pack to my old love Oils but this time the water mixable ones.
I find as I grow older the smell of turps or white spirit gives me a bad headache.
The water mixable oils perform just the same, with that lovely buttery texture which I love.
Oils do take a long time to dry but this can be a bonus as well if you want to alter things.
I find it better to leave at least one bottom edge unpainted so that I can carry my canvas without getting paint all over me.
I have decided to do a portrait of one of my great granddaughters, she has a lovely open face.

This is the first under painting using similar colours to block in, I have left the bottom under edge unpainted.

Next job is to work on the eyes, nose and mouth as this will test whether I have the likeness correct.