Algerian Woman Graphite Portrait

Last week it was dreadlocks, the week before it was horn rimmed glasses and this week it is a head scarf! Each week the Reno Portrait Society presents a new and difficult challenge! Our model from Algeria (I am sorry to say I did not catch her name) was serious, subdued and very still. I first tried drawing her in 3/4 view but she had such an interesting profile that after this sketch of about 45 minutes, I moved my position to the other side of the studio.

The next 10 or 15 minutes were spent in quickly doing these two sketches in an effort to get a feeling for the curves of her profile.

This is  the final drawing - taking about 40 minutes. What an interesting model and a productive morning. Now back to the easel.....

Profile Portrait

A profile portrait done this afternoon. Experimenting with a very limited palette, dark skin tones, and lots of other stuff that is swirling around in my mind as I paint. It looks like the beginning of this new year is going to be a time of stretching myself and trying new things. Oil on canvas 14x11.