Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three"

"Ella at Three"
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click to enlarge the picture.

At last. The morning was taken by going over the background entirely in order to dull it down some and give the whole painting more depth. I think, if I look back, this painting has taken me the better part of six weeks. More than I anticipated, but not having done a portrait in oil prior to this, I guess I really didn't know what to expect.

Just to add to the story a bit...the chair is a family heirloom. It is part of a set of six curly maple chairs that were in my mother's family, three generations back from her life. They were among some of her favorite possessions and I am privileged to be the keeper of them now, before passing them along to the next generation. It's kind of fun to commemorate them in this painting along with the adorable grandchild that my mother didn't get to see. Hopefully, I have connected the chain of our family while painting this.

Local guild shows are coming up fast, so I'll be working toward those for the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

Click to enlarge the picture.

As you can see, this is still on the easel. Today I finished the bottom of her dress, the bottom right side of the chair,and tweaked the shadows under Paddinton. Except for going back to work the background more, I believe I am actually about at the end. I am very pleased with the way the dress turned out. After painting a few hours on it today and not getting it where I quite wanted, I remembered about Ariane Beigneux again...that she had used a palette knife. So I grabbed one and started in with it on the fabric of the dress. I have to thank her for this...never having used one before, I found it to be very helpful and achieved the look I was wanting.

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

I worked on Paddington Bear, some of the chair and the lower part of her dress today. Her dress is still being worked on..shadows under Paddington are not finished. But... Thought you might like to see Paddington close-up to cheer your day!!
It's getting there. Trust me!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on linen Panel

Click on either picture to enlarge it.

Detail of "Ella at Three"

More progress on Ella's portrait today. I now have a wrapped wrist after trimming hollies and pulling up weeds and saplings in the yard this morning, so I have to say this is a bit painful now on my end, but it is showing promise now. I hope to loosen up on her dress and the rest of the painting, but you know me....that will be pushing myself. Anyway...here is the latest on it.