Applying Lessons to Portraits II

One of my major painting goals for 2022 is to paint from life as much as possible.

After my enjoyable sessions at the live portrait group in Pennsylvania, where I simplified the process by using only the Zorn palette (yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black and titanium white) plus transparent red oxide, I decided to concentrate on using the Zorn palette for more portrait practice this year.

I returned to photos that I took in Nov 2019, when I asked family members to sit for me for an hour at a time during the week of my birthday and I painted 11 x 14 portrait sketches using water-mixable oils:

Now, in 2022, I’ve repainted from these photographs using a 3-step process:

Charcoal drawing
Oil color study
Finished oil portrait

1. Charcoal Drawing

Charcoal study from photo above, 6 x 8 ins

2. Oil Color Study

Oil Study painted from photo above, 6 x 8 ins

3. Finished Portrait

Portrait, 9 x 12 ins, oil on canvas board

3 thoughts on “Applying Lessons to Portraits II”

Final portrait is excellent and so much more like the sitter than
previous ones, I like the smile! MPG

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mayhewjnm says:

March 28, 2022 at 1:58 pm

Thank you MPG!

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Thanks for sharing Mary, the process of developing to the final portrait is interesting and shows that each informs the next. The final one is a great likeness!

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