DSFDF Year End Portrait Challenge

I finished painting the portrait of the mystery artist that Ms.Karin Jurick send to me as part of DSFDF year end challenge. I was pretty tensed about painting blond hair because of my lack of experience. However I was relieved to see that it came out okay.

Leslie, finally I used Arches watercolor paper here. The paper behaves so differently from Canson. I am yet to get used to and learn how Arches behaves with watercolors. I feel that it is a good surface for watercolor but I am yet to learn how to dodge the pigment around to get the desired flow.  

Okay back to the subject, I will put up the reference photo with the artist’s permission after I identify the artist in the portrait. So watch this space!

Update (12/28/2009) :
Here is the my reference photo and the artist is Julie Bloch. I believe this portrait is the last painting for the year 2009. I am already working on another painting which you can see next year. Until then, happy holidays!

less than 9 by 12 inches on 140# Arches watercolor paper

Portrait # 29