I didn’t have much in mind when I started this painting…I just knew that I wanted to paint a portrait, and I wanted to work on loose brushstrokes. I recently took a free online workshop at Strathmore Papers, with artist Robert Joyner. He is VERY loose with his brushstrokes! I am still struggling with the details, and tight painting. So, this was my attempt to just paint…no photo reference, no colors in mind, just a free flowing portrait. Sometimes, I just like to see where it is all going to lead. I wasn’t disappointed.

“Moments Like These…”  an 11 x 14 inch mixed media painting on heavyweight smooth Bristol paper.

To get myself to start off loosely, I used a pencil to draw a fairly rough sketch. Then I used Caran d’Ache Neocolor II water soluble pastels loosely drawn on top of that. Then a bit of pastel pencil, and a brush with water to soften it all. I came in with a limited palette of acrylic paints to add those thick brushstrokes. To finish it all off, I added a thin layer of Dorland’s Wax to the painting once it had dried. It buffs out nicely, to even out all the matte or glossy looks of the acrylics, into a nice semi-gloss sheen. 

I am not quite sure what she might be feeling or contemplating. I thought I might leave that up to the viewer. But the start of a sentence came to my mind…”Moments like these…” With a start like that, you could conjure up just about any story you would like. I like that about portrait paintings…each viewer has their own emotions about the art piece, and can write their own story.

“Moments Like These…” is now available in my online Etsy shop.

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