Beatrice Townsend at the National Gallery of Art

I am back at the National Gallery of Art painting Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent.   This is the result of my first day's work.  I still have a lot to do but I am pleased with my progress so far.  I really haven't touched the face but everything else has been at least blocked in and some things shaded a bit.  I remember thinking I could not wait to get to that red sash...that beautiful red sash.  I grabbed a glob of alizarin crimson and stroked the canvas....AACK!!!  The sash is NOT alizarin crimson red.  It is much more terra cotta/orange red.  The lessons I learn when I *think* I know what I am doing!!!  So with the correct color mixed I painted the sash.  Happy happy me.  

I start out at home sketching the piece and getting a feel for where everything is.  It is all about relationships.  Once I was pretty comfortable with the sketch I headed to the gallery.

When at the National Gallery of art I set up my easel and began sketching on the canvas.  I brought a blank white canvas.  My first two tries were not successful...but undaunted I persevered and managed to get everything in the right place...or pretty close!

My loving husband of 39 years (our anniversary is the 15th!!!) stopped by to see how I was doing and took some actions shots!

I did get quite a few questions from visitors this time...a lot of people asking about the process of applying to become a copyist.  I always try to be helpful and pleasant.  As I packed up to leave a groups of teenage girls stopped by and asked if they could take a picture of me with my painting...there exact words were "you are awesome"!!!  So I left the gallery with a huge smile on my face that will take days to fade.