Enchanting

In September my daughter took me to Old Town in San Diego. I’ll have to say it is my favorite place in the state of California. It portrays historic events from the settlement of the state. There are blacksmith shops, churches, old homes, galleries and restaurants. My very favorite area is Fiesta de Reyes. It  represents old Mexico. It is absolutely beautiful with it’s landscaping. Musicians serenade the customers. There are many wonderful restaurants.

I was drawn to one of the outdoor restaurants. I couldn’t help but notice the hostess. She was so enthusiastic and cheerful. I could tell she loved her job and the people she served. I’m pretty picky about who I do portraits of, but I knew I wanted to paint her. I asked her if I could. I was so glad she said yes.

The most important thing in a portrait is the eyes. As it has been said, they are the window to the soul. In this portrait you’ll see I have her slightly turned and her head goes off the top of the canvas. These techniques add interest and draw the viewer directly to the subject.