A Portrait of Janet

Apart from a few drawings, this was my first go at painting a portrait. And I wasn't looking forward to it!

My memory is I started it in class before lockdown, returning to it more than once over the following weeks, prompted by a photograph of Janet, a fellow member of the Art class.

It's still not finished! I mean, I'm not satisfied with it, but it certainly improved over time. Janet likes it, by the way!

Based on suggestions in the book Vibrant Acrylics by Hashim Akib, I blocked out key features of the face on the grounding. I deliberately chose a dark grounding, as the light was streaming through the window behind her in the top left of the photograph. I hoped the contrast would be striking. Of all the things I've painted, this top left corner stands out for me.

Noses are really hard! She hasn't really got one...yet! I tried process magenta to try to get more flesh coloured tones. Ugh! 

Still, the finished portrait is pleasing to me. It captures a quizzical expression. I'd like to do more to bring out her zany glasses. I slowly developed a habit of placing my A4 and A3 paintings on or above window ledges. it's quite a gallery now. I'm not sure how she would feel about sitting in the corner of my bathroom window ledge!