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The
Painting Process
First,
a photo is selected, then, if not a digital image, scanned into
the compter. It is then cropped to the desired proportions. If neccessary,
the color and contrast balances are adjusted to bring out the details.
The photo is then printed, usually at about 1/2 the finished portrait
size.
Next,
the design is sketched onto the canvas. A rough, monochromatic underpainting
is done to get the basic shapes, shadows and highlights in place.
The underpainting is usually done in acrylics for faster drying
time.
After
the underpainting is dry, the oil painting process can begin. As
oil paints dry slowly, it is very time consuming. Large areas of
color are filled in first, with details, such as the kitten's tabby
stripes and the pattern on the pillow, added later. The final step,
adding the highlight "dot" to the eyes, is a magical moment
for me. It makes the portrait come alive!
It
normally takes about 1-2 weeks to finish a painting, but can take
another 2 weeks or more for the portrait to be dry enough to ship.
And, naturally, the time it takes depends on how many other paintings
I'm working on at the time.
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