Alan - value study

Alan - value study
acrylic on masonite, 5x5

Today, I am starting a new painting adventure - portraits in acrylic, using an impressionistic style!  I am taking an online atelier for the month of November - and this is my assignment for the week.  From the reference photo of my grandson below, I had to capture the lights and darks in 40 minutes.  I thought this would be so hard - but to my surprise I finished most in 20 minutes!  Hard to believe, I use to be much slower.  I guess the daily painting has really sped up my time!  I have always started portraits with a line sketch, not in this workshop!  Instead, capturing the form with shapes of paint is key.  I though this would be SO daunting, but it was not!  It was fun to see the image emerge with loose strokes!  Additionally, I have not used my acrylics since June, and have only used them sparingly in the last 3

years.  So, the thought of having to make those paints work, when I feel oils are so much better suited, was also scary!  But, it was not!  It, too, was fun to build stroke upon stroke, as the layers dried.  SO crazy, to enjoy this whole assignment as much as I did!  I already did another one for tomorrow, and will begin combing through my photos for the best reference work!  This photo of Alan is from a few years ago.  Without even thinking about it, I have painted him to look more his age now!  I can't wait to see how my portraits improve over the next month!  Painting number 1037 in 1037 days :)