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Tres bien!
When I started out there was no internet, I could not find much on painting portraits, so I traced photos , matched the color etc.
Fortunately I live near the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I saw the Sargents, the Copleys, the Stuarts and the Gainsboroughs to name a few. I knew my dull renderings had nothing in common with them.
Fortunately I had had a lot of figure drawing, so I hired models , went to portrait demonstrations and taught myself sight size painting. I have never regretted it. It I think has helped so much with skin-tones especially, the photo reference is so unreliable. As a matter of fact in my own work I rely on models almost exclusively.
With portrait painting and portrait artists becoming so ubiquitous, I think it is important somehow to distinguish yourself with as much craft and knowledge as you can.
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