More work on this portrait today. I decided to use only earth pigments and even glazed with venetian red. It worked surprisingly well. I'm learning more about flesh glazing onto greys. The photo reference was black and white so I have to make everything up. The hair in particular is rough and almost "Velazquezian" compared to the ultra-soft face and lips. The main problems come from the lack of details around the eyes due to a photo that shows none, combined with my relative inexperience at portrait painting. It is pretty enough though, and the blurriness not evident in the photo and dark eyes and mouth adds a certain magicness.
