Life Portrait

"Portrait of Hugh," oil on panel

Although many portraits are done from life, these days a lot are done differently, using perhaps a color sketch from life plus a number of reference photos so that the subject isn't required to return to the studio time after time for life sessions. Busy people often don't want to take time from their daily routines to sit. But I think you lose something--a kind of essence that you can't see in photos--when not working from the person in front of you. 

This portrait is from a workshop maybe two decades ago. I was give a head-on position and good if diffuse lighting. The image is a result of about twelve hours of work over four or five life sessions. 

This one hasn't been shown before.