I decided to do a "test" piece for my oil portraits on a canvas half the size which I will eventually create them on. I decided to work with Kristyna's portrait and I painted her colours onto the background a few months ago, so it would be dry by now.
It was difficult to transfer the design onto an already painted background. I traced the shapes onto paper from my computer screen and then cut the outline, so that would at least be accurate. I traced the edge of the cut-out in pencil and then filled in the rest of the shapes by eye.
These portraits take time and patience, Iit is very much a case of "pushing through" the effort and concentration they require.
The texture is really important in these portraits, which is why I use oil paint. People have commented that they look more dramatic/impactful in real life than any photo can capture - I think because of how the digital image flattens the texture.
I'm pretty happy with how this test piece turned out and most importantly, Kristyna likes it. I made the colours in the skin much paler in order to contrast with the background / hair / dress which are more intense - I think it works better aesthetically but is perhaps contrary to the point of the participant selecting the colours, if they didn't specifically choose pastel shades. I am divided over this issue, but I need to commit to one approach or another.
The bottom edge is a bit messy - I need to take the edge round the canvas in the final portraits.
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