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It’s a Secret

December 12, 2011 by Rachael Shores

I just wanted to share with you my newest portrait painting.  A quick note, this is an upcoming Father’s Day present so don’t blow the surprise if you know this happy dad.   I had received a commission of this little boy as a newborn over a year ago and never got to it.  Once I finally painted the discussed newborn painting I decided he also needed an up to date portrait, sort of a “sorry I took forever” sort of thing.  Since it was a surprise, it took a little research to find a promising pic but luckily with social media and new mothers I had plenty of pictures to choose from.  I found this adorable challenge of him with his daddy and wanted to paint it right away.   How sweet and crisp would this look in a watercolor?

Before

 I like to see this little tyke candid and laughing, I also wanted to make sure to bring attention to the little man on top of the world.  I loved this other expression of his in another photo and clues on Facebook tell me that this is one of his mother’s favorites as well.  He even had a polo shirt on in each photo so it was easy to swap around.  I was a little worried about the hat and the two heads stacked one above the other.  They might create a very symmetrical picture, like a totem pole or something contrived and unappealing but luckily it was as cute as I had envisioned it.  


With a little inspired change

Beginning the skin tones
It took me a while to gain confidence and build up the color.   Watercolor takes layer upon layer.  It can be done with trepidation and you can still get the desired result.  It just takes one small brave step at a time.  It’s surprising that after all these years of painting, adding that color is still thrilling and a little scary for me.  I still don’t feel I’ve matched the photo well enough but I like the softer effect of the watercolor.  When I was done I played around with the painting on my computer to see if I really wanted to try to match the father’s skin tone to the photo.  I love the richness of his dark skin.  I would have given it a bluer tone than how the photo editing turned out but after looking at the photo editing I could see the possibility of my painting turning into vintage advertising and I decided I didn’t want that kind of association.  So it is as is and I am super happy with it.


checking out my options with computer help
 9×12 watercolor
Ta Da!  I’m leaving it for the family to name it.   I look forward to finding out what they call it.

see photos, art, and other trips at Roadsparrow.com

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: design, making of a painting, planning a painting, portrait

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