Mireille

Original painting by Michele Petrelli ©
210x297mm

When I create a portrait, I always begin with a solid drawing.
In my online painting videos, I explain how to build a strong foundation because the color will later be applied quite transparently.
This method helps avoid overworking the face with too many premature features.
However, I do reinforce the eyes and mouth early on—drawing in those areas supports a higher level of detail, as I demonstrate step by step in the online painting course.
On the nose, where the light is strongest, I only leave a few strokes in the shadow area to preserve freshness and clarity.

Watch the full creative process video and learn with me, observing each stage of the painting unfold.