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1st Watercolor Portrait

Here is my first ever watercolor portrait. The photo is of my daughter-in-law and granddaughter, taken last fall at Harvard stadium. The painting is on 9×12 Arches 140lb coldpress paper. Of course, with such a lovely photo and subjects I can’t pass up a second attempt….. I will post the results.

Reference photo
Watercolor reference photo

My first watercolor of this wonderful photo
Watercolor reference photo
Of course, scanning a watercolor really doesn’t do the painitng justice….but
Here is
What worked
– the baby’s hat, the knitted effect worked well
– the stadium background worked
– the mothers sweater and hat, the wool flease in the hat came close
– sunglasses and reflection in glass

What was ok
– the sky was ok
– the baby’s outfit, could be better but the shadows did show 3D

What didn’t work
– mother’s complexion is much too muddy… I now understand muddy in watercolor
– baby’s color is close but not quite
– expression is not happy enough, I learned we humans are INCREDIBLY sensitive to the details of human expression. For example, I belive the corners of the baby’s mouth need some up turning for more happiness.

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