Close-up of figures
 

Dean wears large wire frame glasses. I've just begun putting the bows in.

Reversal of Fortune
 

This is looking great!

I understand your point about reality of coloring versus source of light. A compromise of some highlights along the animal's spine may be enough to connect the illusion.

I'm glad you didn't know how difficult this would be when you started, or we may never have seen such a lovely painting emerge!

A different view of Dean
 

As promised, here is the partially completed charcoal of Dean. I found myself "frozen" and unable to complete or go beyond the bows of the glasses. Once I put the glasses in it will be too late to change facial features if they are wrong. So, I decided to work on the charcoal more.

This isn't complete either, will post more as I get there.

Jeannine, I really appreciate your positive comments on this painting. Its been a heartbreaker to work on.

Jean

Again, Dean
 

Still softening, edges in particular. I didn't like the blue scarf so changed it to red. Added highlights to the dog's back. Thanks Jeannine, it worked. I did a lot in the background and foreground, trying to pull it all together.

Jean

Face
 

He has a face now and it does look look him. Thank God for the magnifying glasses. Rebecca, do you have something like these to work on your miniatures? His face is only about 3 inches high. Still no glasses. I can only hint at them since the frames are black wire. Now I have to wait for things to dry.

Jean

Happiness
 

I'm so relieved, Dean is out of the hospital and improving daily. Tomorrow I'm actually going to meet him and do some of my own photos. I was so afraid he might die while I was doing his portrait. Somehow I felt that if I didn't finish it he would stay alive as long as I was working on it. Guess you could call this magical thinking. Boy am I powerful! Has anybody else got this involved emotionally in a portrait?

Jean

Introducing "Bear"
 

Nothing could have prepared me for the bounding, massive, championship golden retriever that greeted me yesterday. Certainly not the distorted unflattering snapshot that I painted from.

There is absolutely NO comparison between life and photos. I came home wearing Bear's essence all over my body, and met a kind, gentle man with a twinkle all over his face and a love for life.

Jean

New and improved "Bear"
 

Hi, This is reworked from a composite of photos since Bear wouldn't pose perfectly for just one shot! But this is much more like him. Now on to Dean.

Jean

Likeness
 

This is Dean's 5th face. After meeting him it was apparent that I didn't have enough information to get his likeness. So I wiped out his face (power). Now at the fifth version, I finally feel that this at least looks like him. The problem is to incorporate his new face back into the whole painting, it doesn't seem to fit. I believe in trying so hard to get the likeness, I've disregarded the "feel" of the painting. My fear is that I will destroy his face in bringing it into the work.

Jean

Detail of face
 

The whole face was painted with the help of magnifying glasses. I'm sure this is part of the problem, but was the only way my old eyes could even see where the brush was. I'm hesitant to post his reference photo due to the dramatic change in his appearance since last summer. If anyone is interested in helping me privately through e-mail please send me a note.

Jean