I have too much other stuff to do, but I really hate myself when I miss this!
I was commanded to not do another moody/gloomy self-portrait this year, so I have to use photo-reference otherwise I really can't draw myself happy. Not sure why I can't. Perhaps it's some sort of emotional shortcoming or I just can't maintain the same happy look long enough to draw it.
So, me happy in my studio.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_fu9jx0ynJ0c/TM9QynD3NzI/AAAAAAAABfg/nu2Fwvx6I1s/s400/picme.jpg)
Started doing my tonal study and realised how late it was already getting. Last year I think I started much earlier and had time to do a tighter tonal rough to scan and paint over.
Decided I didn't have time and thought I could fix things while working in Photoshop and maybe Painter.
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_fu9jx0ynJ0c/TM9P_G8WgRI/AAAAAAAABfQ/0EyvsqzwhtM/s400/ispd2010sketch.jpg)
Scanned, colorized and the starting of painting. Decided it needed some other light shape compositionally. Colors need much, much more work. I might try to get that same washed-out look as the ref since I'm not too experienced painting skin with that much light in it.
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_fu9jx0ynJ0c/TM9P_b9vxOI/AAAAAAAABfY/30kdhDvEZFs/s400/ispd2010wip.jpg)
Going to run some filters, adjustment layers and variations then port it over to Painter for a bit (primarily for the water rake and other blenders) and see what transpires.
Got four hours left. . . .