Last year I was commissioned to paint the portraits of three lovely daughters.  Each daughter is to be painted at the age of five.  I painted the oldest, Lauren, last year.  This year it was Katelyn's turn.  The paintings were completed using photographs and color studies from life.  We chose to do the photo session during the summer, using the beautiful slanted light of the evening (Lauren) and morning (Katelyn) for a soft back lit feeling.  I followed the photo session with having the girls sit for a color study.  Their mother kept them busy drawing at a table or reading stories while I literally held up pastels to them and created a color palette for the painting.  For Katelyn, finding pastels that matched her pink dress and her blonde hair was very amusing to her.

Back in the studio I went over the photos and found a couple that I liked.  I blended two of them to do a study of her features and sent off the pencil sketch for the parents approval. 

Once that was approved I used the pastels I had set aside from the sitting and created a color sketch that is a small version of the finished piece.  This gives the parents a clear idea of what the painting will look like when it is finished. Color study

Then it was time to work on the final painting.  I posted the photos, pencil drawing, and color study next to my easel.  The portrait usually starts off quickly and then the process slows down as I refine the features and make certain I have the likeness.  Katelyn has amazing eyes and beautiful coloring. She is a lively,smart, and friendly girl.  I wanted to capture all of those qualities of her personality.

I look forward to painting the portrait of the third daughter in a couple of years.