"The Girl In The Big Sweater"

I painted this today - really fast, because it was hot in my studio, and I had this awesome red paint left on my palette. I'm trying, in general, to paint faster with less control.  For this one I used an old practice board, brushed a layer of gesso over it, and discovered her face and shoulders.  

In person you can almost see eyes in her ponytails and the texture coming through the layers.  I like the way the under-layer shows through.  It looks like you can see through her skin to her spinal column, the muscles in her face, and the artery in her neck.   She's like the "invisable woman" I saw at OMSI when I was a kid. 

She also reminds me of my sister, who had beautiful almost see-thru skin and had a sweater much like this when she was young. 

My sister died last year, but she shows up occasionally in my paintings to say hello and give me encouragement.  Today she is gracing my first blog post on my new website samyakyamauchiart.com  with her determination, thoughtfulness and beauty - some of same qualities I hope my website will hold.  

"Thanks Sis!"