Fran & Terry, in progress

[Cinda Gazaway]

I'm posting a charcoal sketch which I did with some flesh tones to work out the gesture of the couple.

I am not happy with the position of the man's left hand. It gives an appearance of being too short from shoulder to elbow and the looks awkward to me. I am waiting for this couple to pose for me so that I can arrange both of the man's hands more naturally. You'll notice I haven't given him a right hand at all yet.

In this pose, the man is actually leaning forward with his right arm resting on the back of the woman's chair. He is seated on a higher level stool behind her. She has her arm resting on the arm of the chair (which I have not pictured at all).

My main focus at this stage was to capture the cuddling gesture of the couple. I know the couple personally and they are so affectionate towards one another. I feel it's important to reflect this in the final painting. Also, the woman has always a dazzling smile with dimples. To have her not smiling would be to not recognize her as she is. How do I represent her smiling without looking photographic?

Cinda Gazaway