Sorry it's taken me awhile...I actually used some pto today and took the day off of work so I could work on THIS for awhile...isn't that just silly? But I haven't had a chance to work on it since I posted last...
I was able to lighten the photo in photoshop, but then I had to mess with the RGB vs. CYMK settings to get the color separation right for printing, etc. etc. It helped to have that lighter reference around.
I'm pretty happy with this so far. I think I've got about one more sit with this then I'm going to call it done, lest I the little guy. I'm not really happy yet with his right eye, so I've still got to resolve that. It helped just to turn the reference and the painting upside down and relearn how to see his face. I felt like I was getting tight and making prejudgments about what I was seeing. I got some super-soft brushes, and some Graham Walnut Alkyd so I could glaze and blend a little better. I really love the alkyd - it dries quickly, non-toxic and just makes the paint like butter. I'm really glad I read about it. Besides the eye, I think I've got some of the go back in on some of the highest highlights and the darkest shadows, but I don't think I'll paint again until I've had a chance to look at it for awhile.
Thanks for looking and thanks for all of your comments -- they really helped!
Julie
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