This portrait of Tom is to go with the portrait he commissioned of Linda earlier in the year. He had talked about perhaps getting his own painted too and I wanted the backgrounds to match. So before I sent him the finished painting of Linda I made a note on another canvas of the colours I used. As it happens, the photo I'm mainly working from is the same one used for Linda so at least the lighting is the same which makes it easier for me to match skin tones etc. After sketching his face onto the partly painted box canvas I started to paint in the main features and shadows. I blocked in the shirt and put pink on the background as that's how I started the portrait of Linda. I mixed up skin tones to get rid of most of the white of the canvas so that I can see subtle shades and hues later. Then I worked on the background to get as much of the colour to work as I remembered. I think I've already captured his likeness, I just hope I can keep it through the middle stages! It's the Christmas break now so I've downed tools until next year. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
