Hey Y'all!

Well, I finally got a lot done on my Ozark portrait. This week I deepened shadows, added detail to the shirt and apron. And then I started on the flesh.  Working my way up from the bottom, I tackled Kay's arms and hands first. For me hands are the hardest parts of anatomy to paint. I putz and putter until they take shape. It always amazes me when they finally come together.  I will probably go in next week to add some veins and refinement. When I get to the point where I'm muddling things and over working areas of the painting, I've got to step back and regroup. When I get back to it, often I find that angels step in to fix the areas I felt lacking. They show up quite often at my home. Well, that's another way of saying that when I'm painting I get so focused and zoned in that I see every little speck as an imperfection. So I need to drop my brushes, step away and let my eyes rest on other things for awhile. When I get back to the painting I always see it more clearly and objectively. Usually it is better than how I remember it when I stopped for the rest. And if it isn't, the solution to fix the painting pops into my head.

Once I got the hands looking somewhat like hands, I tackled Kay's face. I had the hardest time doing her eyes. She uses a black eyeliner inside her lashes and trying to recreate the look while still looking realistic was challenging. I must have repainted her eyes five or six times today and I'm still not totally satisfied. I figure stepping away for a day or two to visit my kids, grandkids and great grands should help me see what I need to make them better when I return. 

Yes, you read that right. My hubby Al and I are going to St. Louis tomorrow for a birthday party for his 80-year-old mother. So it will be a full weekend of family. And then we will rush back to Branson for Al to work Sunday afternoon. I wanted to get as much done with my painting as I could before packing tonight. I hope to finish it Monday or Tuesday. I feel like a horse that sees the finish line and speeds up for the home stretch.

Well, back to the painting. I added hair and her cap and safety goggles. Her cap is frayed and warn and I'm very pleases with how it turned out. I also dirtied up her clothing. She had been sawing the morning of the photo and was covered in saw dust. I think it suits her look. Next week, besides tweaking her eyes and hands, I'll be adding detail to her scarf and her t-shirt. I still have one more log to add and maybe a surprise element. Now that she is fleshed in, it seems like it's close to being done, but really there is still a lot to do. I'm not a fast painter, so they will be long days in the studio.

Stay tuned for next week's post for it will be the final one for this painting. You'll be the first to see the finished portrait. I will not be showing it live until I have completed the series.

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