Never Too Many References

What has always intrigued me about making portraits is trying to capture something about a person that seems authentic or genuine enough to display who they are. Because of the integrity I want my portraits to have, I make a point to have the lived experience of talking to and photographing each person myself.  

That experience is just as helpful as the reference images I print and view on my phone as I paint. 

With every layer there's more dimension and life given to the figure....but it still doesn't quite look like a person until the eyebrows are on.

Four more faces to go!