One of my portraits
 

I'd like some feedback, please.

Richard, what a precious painting. I love the way you let your edges blend into the background and the great expression of your model. Are you going to post your ref photo?

Tammy

Great portrait Richard, could you give the size? Did you texture the surface before painting?

Hi, Richard!

It is truly a beautiful painting. I read that Vermeer also used visible brushstrokes to break up large nondescript areas and I see in your work how it truly adds interest. Keep posting!

Thanks for your input.

I recently started using Masonite, which I can texture with acrylic gesso. To texture, I use an old plastic scrub brush and swirl the gesso until it forms an interesting pattern. I use quite a lot of gesso, and when I get a nice pattern, I set it aside to dry. The original size of this painting is 16" X 12". I use oil, but the white I use is Griffin Alkyd Flake White. Lately, I've begun using half Permalba white and half Alkyd Flake White. I work every day (sometimes twice a day) so I like my work to dry a bit before going back to it. The alkyd white seems to take care of hurrying the drying time, at least to the point where it's touch dry in a few hours, or overnight. As for posting the source photo, I can't. I don't have a scanner, although I have my work scanned for making Giclee prints. However, (call me cheap) I don't want to spend the money to have a source photo scanned, too. Sorry. Of course, I abstracted the background as well as the lower part of the figure in an effort to draw attention to the face, which, in a portrait, seems to be the major point of interest, anyway.

Thanks for your interest. Perhaps I'll post another.

Dick Budig

p.s. By the way, the "o" in my email address is a ZER0.