This is my latest practice portrait, a picture of First Lady Laura Bush copied from the cover of USA Weekend. I just finished this 2/2/08. I used a projector since I can't draw. Truthfully, If I continue painting it's going to come to that a lot of the time. I could try learning to draw, too, I suppose.

This is far from perfect, but I'm pretty pleased with it. I used mostly raw sienna and white for the skin tones, with a little red mixed in for some places, also I think, a little blue. The nose came out far better than I thought it would. I also like the right cheek (Laura's right, our left), the lips, and I think the eyes weren't too bad, either. The eyebrows are a little weak.

I'm tempted to go back and re-define the individual teeth a little more, but something tells me nothing good would come of it.

This is a 6 x 8 in acrylic. Since I don't actually have a need for a portrait of the First Lady, it will eventually get painted over. I think I'll keep it around for awhile, though.

Here's a picture of the projector I used to help me draw the face.