Let Soul Speak

I have promised myself that this would be the last straight-on face I would draw or paint until I have practiced the 3/4 profile.  That said, I really like how she came out!  The quote, by Rumi, says, "Let soul speak with the silent articulation of a face." I experimented with crackle medium over the top of the finished face and stenciled images, then rubbed paint into the resulting cracks.  I love the "old masters-look" result.  A lot of shine on this page, so it was hard to get good pics that show the true color without glare. Her hair is actually quinacridone magneta with fluorescent pink highlights, and the green in the background is much darker than it appears.

 

Here are some in-progress pics.