Grace's dress is the palest of pinks.  By chance after the photo shoot, she changed into a peach colored shirt that she loved.  It set of her complexion beautifully, and Mom gave me permission to change the color of her dress in the painting.

THE PAINTING MEDIUM

At some point we choose the painting medium to suit the portrait and the preferences of the client.  The choices generally are watercolor, pastel, or a combination of the two. The decision is made early because each requires a different working surface.

Grace is to be painted completely in pastel. I was intrigued by the wood grain of the piano, and chose a sanded 18 x 24" paper. You'll see why later in the demo.

Many hours at the computer later, I narrowed down the choice of poses to two I felt I could work with equally well.  I made some digital changes in the color and background so it would be easier for the client to visualize the painting.