Diana (Patreon)

Lets keep it simple for a change I thought. Lets try a portrait again of that Dutch actress, Anna Drijver, because the first time did not turn out as I hoped. I even used a photo I found on the web as close reference this time, which I usually only do with commissions when it's required. I usually just use photography by others as guidelines, to see how the face is constructed and make something completely new from it. If you'd google her you'd find the head shot I used for this easily though. It's quite exceptional that, but it couldn't be avoided with her.

I really like that it turned out so much better than that first attempt. But it wasn't easy or simple. It took ages. She has a seriously interesting but quite complex face I could paint forever and probably would have to, while trying to get likeness right. For some reason, missing an otherwise minor detail, makes a huge difference with her. It makes her more common all of a sudden. Not less beautiful but less her. That's quite a rare thing.
It may be that there's something about her that I personally can't manage to really capture, while other artists could, like colour blindness or something. I don't know.  

Quite interesting nonetheless. For an artist that is. I don't know if a spectator or a patron finds it worth mentioning.

By the way, I called it Diana because I thought that buck in the back looked great and Diana is usually painted with a buck, but I wouldn't like to hint at her killing any animal. :)