To paint someone I have a relationship with is way way different from painting a face that I do not know of course.
All of them comes into play. I am looking past the face and the spirit of them is flying all over the page.
I think about how they are. If they are sweet or kind or creative. All that has to come through.
It is very personal and I feel like it is my duty.
If I can do this I should do it of all the people I know really well.
A camera made picture may say a thousand words but a painting says a million.
I realize now that this kind of portrait is not about me. It is about them. It is not about my skill or anything to do with me.
I am just being with them for an extended period of time. So it is all them.
You paint your own portrait by who you are.