Emma by Dennis Spicer

This is super Dennis - lovely bone structure and skin colour. Also the colour on the glass shelf is perfect. Did you work from life or photo?

From life, she sat for 4 sessions when I got the head in, and the vest from a reference photo. I find photos both a help and a hindrance, for the same reason, there is too much detail. you can get bogged down with meticulously copying the photo, whereas life makes you simplify the tones and planes of the face. I find it easier to paint from life as there is more room for interpretation, you are not limited by a set of facts.

Thanks by the way.