Shadow Play with a Snail

A lot of fussy work on head and tail, and quin. burnt orange floated w/w.  on shell

Believe it or not, more work on head area.

When I finally got to the shell yesterday, it started to look good.
6 x 11.25 in. / 15 x 28 cm. / unframed

   This was a little item that I've been planning to do for a while. It was slow going at first [it appeared so uninspiring] but when I started the shell, he really developed quite a look. Actually, I thought I'd go cross-eyed doing the shell, and - horrors! - loose track of where the lines went.

Portrait Classes

Our classroom, very bright and airy, with good lighting

   I must say I am really enjoying the classes. Lalita is a fantastic, upbeat, wonderful person; just being around her makes everyone feel better, more positive. The class is small. The information is extremely well presented, and hand-outs are provided. We even get "homework"! So it's three hours every morning,  Monday to Thursday for two weeks. My brain "feels full" after each session.
   I took the portrait of Dr. Wong to class yesterday. Lalita liked it, and said it expressed my description of the model. Her only suggestion was to darken three points around the face, to increase focus to the face. I have done so, and the result is below.
 

Three spots darkened

Another view of the classroom

We're working on portraits in "pieces" - head shape and proportions, eyes, ears, mouth ...

Lalita, helping me to define the portrait I would like to paint 

My set-up

Lalita, with another student [Betty]