The Imelda May Portrait: An Inside Look

I started working on the Imelda May Portrait a couple months ago and I've pretty much not touched it since. My art doesn't pay the bills yet so I've got to move away from it and on to other things that bring in the bacon.

I had intended finishing this over Christmas but I was laid up with the flu so no further progress to report. The final image will be A0 (1189mm x 841mm) which will be a trim down of what you see in these pictures.

Finishing the subject's left hand will bring the basic structure to a close however I still have a lot of work to do on the detailing of the hair, hands, lips and eyes. The black top she wears needs some detail added also.

Biggest Challenge

The facial skin tones and the lips were perhaps the most challenging although neither is finished yet. Overall I'm happy with where it currently is. White highlights where the light catches strands of hair will really set this piece off and I'm looking forward to getting to that point.

I should mention that I have no formal training in this stuff. I just go with what I feel. In that sense I am a total amateur. My method is also very amatuer but I'll live with it.

Check out the accompanying video to see how I employ that method.

The Original Photo

Here's the original photo I used as a reference and although my intent is always to recreate the original as close as possible to photo quality, I accept I'm not quite there yet. As long as you see who it is and remark at the resemblance then I'm happy.

I've still a bit to go yet with this one so happy enough with the progress.

I used a grid system to transfer proportions to the larger A0 from A4 size. Of course that's very much a beginner's process, however to go totally freehand would have taken me way too long.

With McGregor I went freehand the whole way. This time I chose to go with a grid.

So there you have it.

So far anyway.

I hope to finish this piece soon. In the meantime if you'd like to order prints you can do so here