Auver sur Oise
Commissioned portrait of twins for 50th Birthday Gift
Not quite mini but still desk easel worthy
The client and I both felt that my usual 7.5 x 7.5 miniatures was just too small to capture a true likeness (for my skill and preferred medium – acrylic) so we opted for a 15 x 15cm box frame easel. This is her reference picture printed in colour. The colour hue is more sepia than I wanted it so I adjusted by eye while painting.Â
Loose colour strokes over grids
I unfortunately totally forgot to take pics of the grid transfer but that image was printed to the exact same size as the canvas with block lines drawn so make fitting in the proportions in the right alignment easier. Then I went in with a small flat, round tipped brush and just colour blocked the whole space and background. I actually quite like the face like this already. A future portrait may already be complete in this stage (with added light to the eyes).
Tree bark and bokeh
Before carrying on on the faces and hair, I gave my attention to the background – the tree bark detail and the diffused light. At this stage focusing on the background helps me feel into the “vibe” of the painting, their setting and helps loosen up the “oh god what if I f&*# up the face now?!” fears. Just get in there!
Skin on skin contact
Time to go in and start adding the shadows and blending out highlights from there to capture. that soft, dewy complexion of little ones. They really do look like angelic cherubs don’t they? (These kids – not my rendition of them ;p)
Painting hair with a fine ..tooth brush?
I LOVE painting hair – it’s sooo soothing to me. I use a wider brush to work in the high and low lights and then with a weeeely fine brush just add in some contrasting detail for the hair to give it depth. Listening to a good podcast helps slow me down – you cannot paint hair fast – at least I can’t. It’s a all in the flick of the wrist. The fuzzy jersey also came to life with a gentle daubs and a rather stuffed up, frayed brush.
Framed and ready to ship
Here’s the final painting with its custom made frame by my husband. We went with Kiaat to bring out the warmth in the hair. It’s a shadow box frame so no background backing board needed. I designed a simple desk stand for it because the client wanted her brother to have the option of it standing on his work desk.
A final look
And there we have it, commissioned portrait, custom frame and custom desk stand.
I loved it.
Was even better than the photograph
Luvvies đŸ˜˜
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! It’s wonderful to see the evolution of the painting. You’re so skilful!
Captured on canvas exquisitely. The smaller size makes it almost more precious than a larger painting might have ended up becoming.