This is 1 of the 7 paintings I am currently working on . Dimensions 36 x 48 in . Acrylic , gold leaf and oil paint. Title “ Field of Dreams”. In this body of work I am using old family photographs , this one is of my father working the fields in Mexico before leaving it all behind to come to the United States to chase the American Dream . I added the monarch butterfly which also make a great migrating from mexico to the US . What artworks or series are you working on ? Any themes or techniques you want to share ?

I gave this portrait another try after picking up techniques from different artists. From Daniel Greene's demo at the Art Students League NY, I learned the importance of blocking in the background color early so other values can be compared to it. (Greene, who passed away in 2020, was an incredible teacher). I also used one horizontal and one vertical guide line from another artist, measuring distances with a proportion divider. The initial sketch was done in paint and built up to this stage. I'm happy this one actually reads like a face-unlike my earlier attempt. This past week I've been deep into reading, note-taking, and watching demos. One question I keep asking myself: how do you know when a painting is worth finishing versus leaving it as a study?

This is embarrassing, but I’m sharing it anyway. I struggled to get the colors right, so I might set this one aside for now and revisit the basics—color mixing, matching, and some fundamental painting techniques. It’s all part of the learning process!

Got caught overthinking the zygomaticus muscles. And now she’s been patiently waiting in Rembrandt lighting limbo. Charcoal WIP. Hopefully not forever as I transition to oil portrait painting.