Cami, almost 3
I painted Cami’s sister, Mia, at two, and it was the first portrait I ever sold. This portrait was done for Cami’s grandmother as a commissioned piece.
The challenge with this painting was to capture Cami’s very fair skin in the bright sunlight. I found I had to add more color to emphasize her cheeks, and soften her laugh lines that, while they looked blue in the photo, were too harsh in the painting. I ended up toning them down with some pink and yellow ochre.
I haven’t actually seen Cami since she was a tiny baby, her family was stationed off the US mainland with the Army for the past 3 years. I am anxious to see all of them when they return around Christmastime, all more grown up!