Portrait Of A Little Girl: Mariposa

In a quiet moment I see large blue eyes intently studying a butterfly. My granddaughter, Sofia, is at rest and watchful. Lost in a period of time, captured by wonder and design. For me is was delightful. Soothing. Inspiring. A painting waiting to happen.

Stage 1: The composition. Drawing freehand with a paint brush I try to portray this image with as much accuracy as possible. Working from a photograph means I have to adjust the proportions that the lens over compensates for. The hand had to be drawn much smaller. It was fortunate that I was able to have Sofia pose for me so that I could sketch her from life and make accurate changes.

Stage 2: Painting the face. Working wet paint onto wet paint my goal was to work efficiently, making every stroke count. Already though, I see changes I want to make. 

I think I'll work on her hair next and then her arm and hand.

Little Girl Portrait: Adele Maria

When I was a little girl, I drew people. As I grew older, in elementary school and then later in junior high and  high school, all I ever wanted to do was draw or paint people. Even though I have since expanded my subject matter, when I have the opportunity to draw or paint a person or group of people, I feel like I have gone back to my first passion. Portraiture.

Adele Maria
20x16, Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson (c)2014

Stage 1: The composition. Drawing a subject free hand, with paint, is a good exercise for the eyes. The more one does it, the more confident and accurate one gets. I lightly painted in the lines of Adele for this painting using my usual thin wash of burnt umber and mineral spirits. Making adjustments and erasing unwanted lines is easy with a clean cotton cloth. 

Stage 2: Blocking in the colors of the face. With a #8, filbert brush, I began placing all the major color shapes on her face. At this point I did  not worry about blending yet.

Stage 3: Completing the face. Once I have all the main colors down, I blend and add more color as needed. At this point, I also painted in the front part of her hair so that working with the edges where the hair meets her face would be easier.

Stage 4: Completing her hair and headband.

Stage 5: Painting the background. With this very simple composition I thought it would be fun to add a little interest to the background by using large, dramatic strokes of thick paint.

Stage 6: Blocking in the coat. When blocking in the shape of this coat, I focused on the lights and darks.

Stage 7: Completing the painting. Painting this coat was fun and challenging. While using ample paint, I tried to communicate its thick, soft texture while keeping it simple at the same time. There was a lot of reflected color in this white coat: yellow, blue, purple, pink, green and gray along with various shades of white.

Portrait Of A Little Girl: Adele

Adele was a delight to paint. She was born in the winter and so I thought it would be fun to place her in a winter setting. We took her outside and captured the afternoon light which was gentle on this January day. There was contrast everywhere with this little subject: Adele's smooth, dark hair next to her white, furry coat...her large dark eyes against her light, peach colored skin.

Adele
16 x 20", Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson (c) 2014

Stage 1: Sketching in the composition freehand with a thin wash of paint. In a portrait, my greatest challenge every time is to capture the subject's likeness at this stage instead of later when I'm painting. It's all about problem solving. Though it's hard for me to do, I try to force myself to slow down, take my time and draw my lines as accurately as possible. It's also a great exercise in training my eyes to draw what I see instead of what I think I see.

 Stage 2: Blocking in the shapes with a thin underpainting. Similar to what I would do if I were painting from life instead of a photograph, I brush in a thin layer of paint across her features to get a feel for her likeness. I study everything and make adjustments if neccessary. And then, while this thin layer of underpainting is still wet, I mix my paints and begin blocking in her eyes. From her eyes I apply the skin color. 

Stage 3: Painting her face.

Stage 4: Painting her hair and blocking in her headband.

Stage 5: Completing the headband and applying the underpainting of her hands. I liked her headband; it added to the composition but at the same time I didn't want it so detailed that it took the attention away from her eyes.

Stage 6: Completing her hands. I really enjoyed including her hands in the composition, they were so cute and chubby. Plus, they encourage the viewer's eyes to move around the painting, from one hand to the other and then back to her face. I also liked that her uplifted hands were individually framed in white by the coat's sleeves. I painted this small portion of coat sleeves next to her hands while the paint was still wet so that I could soften the edges of both her hands and the sleeves and not have to struggle with dry edges later.

Stage 7: Painting her coat. I blocked in the major shapes and values. It was great dressing Adele in this white coat. The contrast of color as well as texture between the coat and her hair was just what I was looking for.

Stage 8: Completing the painting. The challenge I found with this coat was to paint just enough information (brush strokes and color) to make it look like the faux fur that it was without it looking too busy or detailed. 
Every composition presents its own challenges and in this painting I decided to keep the background simple so that it doesn't take the viewer's attention away from Adele.

Portrait Of A Little Girl: "Clio" Stage 5

Clio

16 x 20", oil on canvas

Rita Salazar Dickerson 2013

Stage 5: The arms, hands, background...completing the painting. I began this stage by painting in Clio's arms and hands and did not get very far before I realized I had to paint in the background (as well as the white plastic covers of the chains on her swing)so that I could have a better idea of colors and values. The green background started out very light green; the minute I finished it I realized it had to go darker and warmer. There are more colors in the background than it looks like at first glance. Yellows, pinks, blues along with the various shades of green...at times I wondered if I would ever be happy with it. After the background it was time to revisit each section of the painting. Painting wet on wet, the edges of her hair had to be reworked into the background as well as the edges of her skin and dress. Small but important adjustments were made throughout the painting. Now, its time to let it rest and hopefully see it with fresh eyes in a week or two.

This painting reminds me of one of my favorite children's poems, The Swing, by Robert Louis Stevenson. Do you know it?

Portrait Of A Little Girl: "Clio" Stage 4

I like traditions. A tradition I started with my art, is to paint a portrait of each grandchild when she (or he) turns two. It is my gift and hopefully it will be something for them to enjoy, even at the age of two.

It's fun when I have the opportunity to add something within the subject matter of the painting that holds significance or special meaning for the child. In this case it is the dress. This hand crocheted dress was created by Clio's great grandmother, Donna Dickerson. Donna is an artist with her crocheting needles.

Portrait Of A Little Girl: Clio, Stage 2

I had a full day yesterday. I wondered how I was going to fit painting into my schedule. I promised myself two hours at the easel. At last, when evening came, I began with a prelude of cleaning my palette and mixing new colors. After scraping and cleaning the glass surface I then brought out my paints. My goal was to paint Clio's eyes. Surely that would satisfy me. Well, it didn't. Before I knew it the adrenaline started flowing and two hours drifted into five. It was sublime.

Stage 2: Painting Clio's face. For her dark complexion I mixed Transparent Earth Red with Alizarin Crimson and then lightened it with Titanium White. I also mixed in Cadmium Red Medium to give her pink cheeks. The light blue reflected color is Cobalt Blue and Titanium White. 

Portrait Of A Little Girl: "Clio", Stage 1

 Stage 1: Drawing in the figure with paint. The most important thing at this stage is having a great reference photo to work with. I photographed little Miss Clio in her back yard on her swing and was happy about the color, lighting and composition. Sometimes I get so excited to paint that I rush through this stage, anxious to move on and add color. This time I intentionally relaxed and enjoyed the process of mixing a thin wash of Transparent Earth Red and mineral spirits and then loosely drawing in her image (using a soft cloth to rub out the lines that I didn't want). It was fun and for some reason I was reminded of the countless hours I spent drawing people freehand as a high school student - one of my favorite pastimes.

Reworking A Painting: Portrait Of A Little Girl

Here is another example of how a portrait looks after I go back and rework it. I ended up going over almost everything: her skin, features, hair and added wood grain to the buffet and texture to the rug. I enlarged her left foot and added light to the rocking chair. Her dress has more contrast with the lighter values added.

Before

After
Elena
16x20, Oil on canvas

Reworking and Completing A Portrait: Elena I

Going back to a painting after it has "rested" a while can be a great opportunity to see it with fresh eyes and make the needed adjustments that I just couldn't see before. Here is the "before" and "after" of Elena Running.

Before

After

Elena Running 
16x20", oil on canvas

I pushed the background back further by softening the edges and adding a glaze. Then I lightened the values of Elena's hair, dress and eyes. I also added more color to her skin tones.

Little Girl Portrait II: Gracie and the Balloon/6th Session, The Completed Portrait

Gracie
oil on canvas, 11x14
6th Session

I had so much fun painting yesterday afternoon and into the night, I could hardly stand it! It is exciting when I imagine what  the completed painting will look like and then have it actually turn out the way I was hoping. Since this is not always the case, I like to enjoy these moments when I can!

I decided that the green grass in the background was not necessary and in fact detracted from Gracie and the overall composition. Once that was replaced with blue sky, I painted in the balloon and then as a final treat, added the bubbles, entertaining additions to an already light and airy composition.

Now, the time has come to let the painting "rest" a few days before I look it over one last time with fresh eyes and make any additional changes. Since Gracie is a Christmas gift, she will need time to dry before delivery and framing.

It has been such a pleasure painting both of Gracie's portraits.

Little Girl Portrait II: Gracie and the Balloon/5th Session

Gracie
oil on canvas, 11x14
5th Session

The pale pink of Gracie's dress works well with the light blue sky. They compliment each other in a way that enhances her features and adds a softness to her presence. The day I photographed Gracie, the weather, lighting and her pink dress all worked so well together. Gracie was a painting waiting to happen.

 



Little Girl Portrait II: Gracie and the Balloon/4th Session

Gracie
oil on canvas, 11x14
4th Session

Painting little arms and hands kept me busy last night. Since I am painting wet into wet paint, there was no turning back; it was midnight when I finally felt I was at a stopping point. Of course by then I wished I could have painted all night (which I have done sometimes) but I made myself stop with the reminder that tomorrow is another day and if there is something to correct (which there usually is) it can be corrected later. And so for now, here are Gracie's arms and hands. Her dress is next.

Little Girl Portrait II: Gracie and the Balloon/3rd Session

Gracie
oil on canvas, 11x14
3rd Session

I'm really having fun now! Though I'm still not certain what I'm going to do with the background yet, I like the way the light blue and her face have such an ethereal feel to them. It feels like I'm painting a little angel.

Little Girl Portrait II: Gracie And The Balloon/2nd Session



Gracie And The Balloon
oil on canvas, 11x14
2nd Session



Painting the eyes...

Portrait Of A Little Girl: Elena Running/ The Completed Portrait

Elena Running
oil on canvas, 16x20
8th Session

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, one of my favorite elements in a commissioned painting is adding personal information that has significance to the subject or subjects that I am focusing on. In this case, the English garden in the background marks a time in Elena's life where she has had the opportunity to spend part of her life there. The roses also hold special meaning because of her middle name, Rose.  Art that tells a story; this is so much fun!

Portrait Of A Little Girl: Elena Running/ 4th Session

Elena Running
oil on canvas, 16x20
4th Session

I must admit that I was very excited to paint in Elena's striped headband with the pink satin roses. I love details and color!

My next challenge, her arms and hands. 

Portrait Of A Little Girl: Elena Running / 3rd Session

Elena Running
oil on canvas, 16x20
3rd Session

Little Girl Portrait: "Grace" Completed

Grace
oil on canvas, 16x20
7th and 8th Session

Painting Grace's portrait had been a delight on many levels. First, her name brings to mind two  definitions of the word grace (elegance or beauty of form, undeserved favor or goodwill). The name is befitting of her. And then I think of how fortunate I am to be able to paint portraits such as Grace's as well as all of the interesting work that comes my way as a commissioned artist. This painting career that I have is definitely undeserved. God has been gracious. I am truly blessed.

The pink dress was ideal for little Grace. She wears it well. The color enhances her skin as well as her light hair. The background also emphasizes her beauty; the framing of her smiling face with the greenery and then the colorful flowers that dance playfully behind her. It was all so much fun to paint!

Little Girl Portrait: The Background

Grace
oil on canvas, 16x20
6th Session

I enjoyed painting in this vivid green portion of the background which immediately enhanced her light blond hair and little pink bow.

Little Girl Portrait: Arms, Hands and A Little Blue Whale

Grace
oil on canvas, 16x20
5th Session