Portraits #12 and #13

I had a great painting week, I started 3 new portraits!  Numbers 12 and 13 are finished, I think.  I keep looking at them while they sit on the shelf in the studio, so they may change a bit...

Once again I will complain about painting beautiful young women.  It is hard to not make them look either younger or older than they are, and there are no wrinkles to help me measure proportions. And the young people I have had pose don't talk as much as the older sitters, so I find myself thinking too much.  That said I had a wonderful time in Tisa's patio with these two high school juniors.

#12 arrived wearing this great hat

after some adjustments

and a few more adjustments

The hat was a challenge, getting it to sit on her head and then to paint her face in the shade.

I was glad # 13 (lucky 13?) was still willing to sit after watching me paint #12.  It was getting hot in the patio and I kept trying to get some sun on her hair.  And what great hair!

I love that as I showed her this start to her portrait #13 said, " This is just like a rough draft."  As I look at it now I think I must have been getting a little tired!

adjusting

and more adjusting

Adding just a few freckles and more movement to her hair.  She may look a bit younger in this portrait than she is, but maybe I have a bit of Peter Pan in me, and I hate to see kids grow up?

I have not consciously been choosing beautiful people to paint, but it seems to be working out that way.  Maybe there is something to be learned in this project besides painting skills.  So are there any non-beautiful people in Santa Paula who would like to be part of the project?