July 3, 2025
I love painting portraits. And this time, I decided to put the spotlight on myself. Having the luxury of choice, I picked a reference that depicts me in a posture that it still my habit when I am tired. But I no longer suck my thumb!
The reference required some creative thinking, as it was a small black and white print I found in a photo album. It was probably taken at the end of a long photo session with my father. I look quite tired and ready to take a nap!
I checked out several colour pictures to find out what I looked like in colour! And this is the result… My hair as a toddler was a mixture of golden blond and white curls. Many children in The Netherlands start out with white hair, only to turn dark as they grow older. Mine is a darker raw sienna these days, that will go very blond when I live in bright sunlight for a longer time. But as a baby and toddler it had a definite strawberry and yellow tinge. And to add a little extra to the finished painting, I took one of the baby curls, that my mom has always held on to. Cute, huh?
