Sunday 5 August 2012

Ermelinda





Ermelinda is a singer, she has a beautiful classical voice.  We met earlier in the year at an art exhibition and  I  secretly tried to sketch her interesting face and long black hair.  Fortunately after we got talking she agreed to pose for some reference photographs (sketching time ran out) for me to use at a later date.

It's taken me a while to get round to it and is a first attempt at a portrait in watercolour.  I think I painted her a little too fierce and there are things I don't like but I didn't want to fiddle around with it too much so I left it as it is.



15 comments:

Rita said...

It's true her face looks a bit fierce...although maybe that is what makes her face interesting. I love the way you did her hair and the way the watercolors blend.

Unknown said...

YOu did a beautiful job! The expression is so real and shows so much personality. That's the mark of a good portrait!

Ann said...

I think it's a gorgeous portrait! She looks very goddess-like...

debra morris said...

Lovely Cathy, and you were so right to stop when you did.

Unknown said...

Hello Cathy,
You have done a fantastic job on this portrait.
I always think watercolour is a hard medium for portraits. But you have pulled it of wonderfully.
If there ever comes a time when I can paint as good as this (I can dream)- you can bet I WILL fiddle around and ruin it.
Stew.
stewcrowther.wordpress.com
_________________________

Alex said...

Fantastic! It looks very dramatic and certainly have made it look easy with watercolor

Elizabeth Rose Stanton said...

That's quite the head of hair she has. Nice treatment of the light. Portraits in watercolor can be challenging...I think you've done a very credible job.

Sarah Melling said...

Fierce is good! I love her hair and the light on her face. And I hope you show it to her!

nanke's stuff said...

You did a wonderful job with this ... she's very dramatic. I love it! nancy

Anonymous said...

When I first saw her, I thought she was a Spanish flamenco dancer - very dramatic!

Jessica M said...

Beautiful! I love her hair!

Unknown said...

I would have thought intense rather than fierce - like a flamenco dancer (as someone has suggested.

It's a lovely portrait.

Anonymous said...

I love the emotion the portrait portrays. It gives it personality. The colors are beautiful as well.

Dan Kent said...

I love all of the colors in the skin. Also, the expression - there is determination and drama. I envision her on stage in an opera, so you must have got it right!

Anonymous said...

fabulous effort so far, cant wait to see more studies. I love how you manipulated the colour washes to get that shape of the chin and the shadow under the neck. Its my favourite part of the body to draw - so elegant. well done.