This was one of those paintings that just flowed and was fun from beginning to end. I started with a drawing in pencil (below) on Arches Oil paper and then applied a layer of Golden GAC 100 acrylic sealant over the sketch to make the surface less absorbent and more slippery.
My goal for this painting was to stop as soon as the painting said what I wanted to say and before things got over-worked, overly perfected and I’m pleased to say that’s exactly what I did. Sure, there are many things that could be better but I like it just the way it is.
The images below show the steps in the process, from the graphite drawing, to an umber underpainting, to the block-in and final layer of paint.
Oil portrait of Dylan H from Sktchy, 11×7” WIP, initial block-in completed WIP, initial block-in neck and ear not yet painted Underpainting in Raw Umber Graphite sketch of Dylan H from Sktchy, 11×7″ My sketch and the Sktchy app reference photo on my iPad