Start of the Sarah Portrait

Open Portrait Exhibitions are looming on the horizon. It is time to start a new portrait. Sarah kindly agreed to sit for this portrait some time ago. So I have reference photos, a colour study and now a canvas built to size. The first photo shows just how rough the initial mapping in is.
The figure is refined a little still trying not to commit myself too much at this point.
A blocking in of dark areas.


The last images show lots of work on the background. Two days work to get to this point.