*Update* This painting is now with the owners at their home in Scotland. Here is a photo of the finished piece that I took just before I began wrapping it up for the journey.

This week I am spending time painting in some details on this current commissioned portrait.

This piece posed interesting new challenges for me. Although the total piece is large at 50 x 75 cm, his face is actually quite small on tbe canvas and I have been using my tiniest ever brush today for shadows and highlights. I love the challenge of it all! My heart has been in my mouth when moulding his beautiful almond shaped eyes-one false move and whoops. Fortunately oil paint can be moved around on the canvas, so I was able to work back into the paint with a dry brush, untiil I was satisfied. I will wait a day or two for this layer to dry a bit, then I will go back in with a final layer on his face and body.

By the way I have to lean back on my rickety studio chair to get as much as possible of the canvas in, Im just a risk taker today.