Portrait Of A Little Boy II, Part 9

Little boy blue...

Portrait Of A Little Boy, II
24 x 18", oil on canvas

Rita Salazar Dickerson

Stage 9: Painting the background and completing the painting. Sometimes it seems like it takes longer to complete the last couple of phases in a portrait than it did to do all the previous stages. The paint is still wet so this photograph is not as clear in areas (where there is glare) as I  would like it to be for this post.

After painting in the background of sky, trees, grass and soil, I realized it was time to go back in and re-work the color and values on his face, hands and feet. I also softened edges, added more contrast to his shirt and jeans and blended the color and values in his hair.

This Little Boy Blue was fun to paint! 

Portrait Of A Little Boy II, Part 7 and 8

A sunny summer day, bare feet and little boy in blue jeans. Perfect.

Stage 7: Painting his blue jeans. When his mother chose these clothes for his portrait I was glad. I knew, with his blue eyes, dressing him in in the same color would be ideal. Plus, I could tell he was very comfortable dressed like this which helped him relax for the portrait.

And then there was the slide...

Stage 8: Painting the slide. Adding the slide to the composition added color, contrast and a playfulness to the painting. He was so happy to sit and smile before he let go!

Portrait Of A Little Boy II, Part 6

Using blues and pinks I painted ten little toes...

Stage 6: Painting ten little toes. I thought I would be able to do the feet and his denim jeans during one painting session, but more often than not it usually takes longer that I imagine when planning my painting goals for the day. In the end, I blocked in the jeans so that the edges would work well with his feet for painting wet-on- wet.

Portrait Of A Little Boy II, Part 5

Stage 5: Painting his arms and hands. Although they are not finished, I am now at a resting point with his little arms and hands. I love the fact that he is playing with his round pink toes; tomorrow I will finish painting them!
Each brush stroke brings me closer. Even though there is still so much to do, I am beginning to get a good sense for where this painting is going.

Portrait Of A Little Boy II, Part 4

Stage 4:  Painting his shirt, once again, was almost as challenging as the first time(with the 11 x 14"). Giving enough detail but not too much was my first goal. The variations of the stripes and edges was my second. This is a good stopping point for me; I will make more adjustments as the painting progresses. Tomorrow I will work on his arms and hands.

Portrait Of A Little Boy, II: Part 3

Stage 3: Painting the hair. Though I will go back in and work on his hair more, I think I have the values and shape close to what I want. The impasto technique used on his highlights creates texture and dimension.

Portrait Of A Little Boy II, Part 2

Spring is generally a busy time of year for me. I have been working on commissioned paintings that clients will be giving as special gifts; I will share some of them with you later. In the midst of it all I have this little boy at the easel, waiting to be painted.

Portrait Of A Little Boy II

Stage 2: Painting the face. At this stage my main goal was to place his features as accurately as possible knowing full well there will be adjustments (color, edges, values) before the painting is completed.