Starting this painting from a picture I took of my sister during the past summer was quite a snap decision - I didn't have much inspiration and knew I've always wanted to challenge myself to step out of the comfort zone and confront a large portrait - I wanted to explore how I can treat the skin with oil paint, how different colours can manoeuvre in and out of the flesh tone. Colour, of couse, is always something I agnonize over and I did play around on photoshop beforehand. I realised that my colour palette lately have been the same/similar... but maybe that is not a bad thing. I still struggle with getting that real aspect though. Also, how close to reality do I actually want this face to be? Does it matter if it doesn't resemble her? Will this read as a personal painting?
Really painting this was challenging, of course, but I had fun playing with colours. I absolutely loved how a strong colour completely gives emotion to the face... almost like little injuries... but just small strips of suggestion of such.. anyway, technically, of course I am not great, but for my first portrait attempt I am still proud, I guess. I also tried to free up the brush strokes by using my fingers.. though I am not sure how well that works with oil paint... but I do like the effect.
