Finding this is becoming addictive!!…Reading a lot about Lucian Freud for my dissertation. Painting a portrait is an attempt to not just replicate the image of the sitter, but to capture something of their essence. But as yet….I am not sure that is neccessarily true from painting from life compared to a photograph. Both have very strong merits and this convinces me that this is a good subject for my dissertation. Finished painting of young girl. I dound the photo mesmerising, especially her eyes and I felt compelled to paint her. I used liquin with my oils which gave a transluscent effect. The liquin allowed me to work up layers of colour which gave a beautiful lustre to the painting. However…it also removed any of the brushstrokes and for me…seeing the mark making in a painting and the swirls of paint is what excites me, so I will probably not continue with experimenting with liquin.
