Sometimes there is a face you just need to draw. I saw a photo portrait on Wet Canvas that I thought was really interesting. It was of a Belizean man standing in the jungle looking off into the distance. I liked the expression and the reflected colors in his face.
The first time I attempted this was as part of my sketch book for my drawing class. I did it in charcoal on tan paper. There were some things I liked, the hat and the smirky musculature at the corner of his mouth. There were things that weren't quite right, his eyes and lips. But, I liked it enough that I framed it and it was accepted into the student art show this spring.
Belezean, charcoal on paper 9" x 12"
The next attempt was in watercolor. Not bad, but not that good either. The colors were a little flat and the eyes weren't right again.
watercolor on paper 9" x 12"
This time I cropped it close to focus on the facial features and skin colors. You wouldn't believe how many colors I put into that skin and the eyes, green, yellow, blue, hot pink, purple. Making the eyes bigger helped me get them right. Much, much better. I think this is one the best paintings I've done so far.
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