I was recently commissioned by a professional photographer, John Alexander, to paint a portrait of the beautiful Robin Emslie Williams.
I worked off an excellent photo he took himself, portraying her against a dark background, illuminating her joyous smile. The strong light against the dark background created a sense of drama, enhancing the atmosphere of her career in the drama world.
I decided to keep the strong dark background and did so by using the techniques of the old Russian art masters.
To enhance the dramatic effect of light against dark I added the paint quite thick in the light areas. But I had to balance the harsh thick paint with subtle soft wisps of hair disappearing in the background.
The portrait was a challenge, but also a milestone in my art career to be able to not only portray the likeness of this beautiful woman, but also the world of the drama, where she spent most of her life.
