After and before 'Nicole'. I wasn't completely happy with the eyes. I wanted her to be looking at me. I am glad i made the change.

I think I am finished! I will have to put it away for a bit. Or stare at it some more... It is hard to know when its done.

I am not enjoying the hair so much now....its starting to feel like work! this painting is almost finished. I have put a first wash on the background, a second wash on the tank top.

I put a few light washes over the hair to soften and blend it.

Lots of hair work. I am adding the complement colors now, to create depth. I will soften it next.

I have started painting Nicole's hair.

I couldn't just paint the eyes, I then had to paint the eyebrows and lashes. I am using different colors than I am used to for this painting. A fellow artist, Ron Morrison, recommended I read the book 'Transparent Watercolor Wheel' by Jim Kosvanec. Very en-lighting! So, I am painting this with transparent colors, raw sienna instead of yellow ocher etc.
It is starting to look like Nicole, finally! I had to turn the painting upside down to get the mouth right.
Tomorrow I am going with my neighbor and fellow artist Karen Martin Sampson to her life drawing group. I am very excited! Its been a long time since I have done such.

I wanted to leave the eyes until I felt I had the skin tones right.....but I am finding it a bit creepy to look at. I will have to paint the eyes.

Nicole, first wash.

Today I drew on Nicole, she is ready to paint. I can't wait to paint all that hair.