Dolce: Paint Layer 3 and 4

This stage of the painting requires a full palette of colors. I am careful to keep the shadow shape and size accurate. I make small corrections when needed. I add opaque paint and bring the portrait towards the finish. I stop When I feel I have captured something unique about the sitter that I do not want to lose. This is intuitive. I allow the paint to dry.

I oil out the painting to restore the gloss of the oil paint and resume painting. The dry paint of this layer allows me to add some bold broken color without the worry of over blending to create mud. The pastel study is useful here to remind me of the beautiful colors in my subject’s skin tones.