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Here you can see some progression shots for Quiet Beauty II, 12x12 pastel and acrylic.

My approach has been compared to a mosaic type of applying not only the wet underpainting but the first layers of pastel as well.

I exaggerate the colors I see as I work on the underpainting in watercolor and ink on UArt sanded paper.

The finished and dried watercolor and ink underpainting:

Yes, it looks like a mess and I tell my students (and myself!) not to panic at this point but to trust the process! The very forgiving medium of pastel can cover up anything I don't like so I can let loose and have fun with the watercolor first. That step gives me a nice colorful foundation rather than a white paper surface. I can let whatever color I choose to poke through my pastel layers or cover it all up!

First layers of pastel going on:

I still work in patches of color all over the painting, repeating colors in various areas throughout for a harmony and cohesion. I do use more natural skin tones at this point. I find it easier to use punchy colors at first, then tone them down as needed. If I start off too neutral it's more difficult to add life to the painting with more vibrant color later.

Here some areas have been blended already:

 I do use my fingers at this point but I dab at the pigment rather than rubbing it in. It takes the right amount of pigment to make this work. With enough layers the colors blend themselves anyway, or I use harder pastels for blending by letting them push the pigment around that was laid down by the softer pastels. This is the middle stage and more pastel will be applied even over the blended areas because I don't want a too smooth look in the end. I want to see clear markings of pigment, not one smooth area of color. By having just the right amount of pigment on my paper and then dabbing rather than rubbing to blend it doesn't create mud or leave too much oil from my fingers on the piece.

The finished piece with pearlescent acrylic paint applied to the background pattern:

This, as well as Quiet Beauty I, was started as a demo in one of my portrait workshops and I will donate part of the proceeds from sales to the organization who runs the Haitian orphanage where these girls live and where I first met them in 2010. I will have to play around with photographing these in order to get better shots that show the true skin tones as well as the variety of color and light in the background pattern.