When I look at these paintings, I see my mom and dad, but also I see an illustration of how tricky it can be for a beginner to mix flesh tones.
For the record, my dad is not chocolate brown with purple undertones. He is olive-skinned. And my mom is fair-skinned, with pink undertones but not red like a sunburn!
Steven and Ellie on Their Wedding Day. 30″ x 36″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2004 Cedar Lee
Despite the skin tones being so off, the painting captures their expressions and their happy memory from 35+ years ago.
You can see my skin tones had progressed quite a bit in this portrait of my dad I did a year later. What I love about this painting is his smile and the sparkle in his eyes.
Steven 21″ x 14″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2005 Cedar Lee
Then this painting of my mom, another year later, is even better. I captured her!
Ellie. 16″ x 20″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2006 Cedar Lee
In this one, I love how I painted the light falling on the contours of her face and hair.
The lesson here for beginning painters who have a desire to do portraits: At first, you almost definitely *won’t* succeed. But try, try again!
