Jessica: A Christmas Present

I had absolutely no idea what to get my little sister, Jessica, for Christmas this year, so I painted a portrait for her instead hunting around the shops for something that she most probably won't want. It seemed like an intimate and thoughtful present, although alongside this pleasant reflection, there was the not so comfortable realisation that I had limited time and certainly did not want to paint a portrait that is non-reflective or unflattering. 

I used a square 16 x 16 inch cotton canvas that Jessica herself had bought me for my birthday. I washed it with black paint and water and then used an old jumper to dab the canvas dry. This left a textured background. I applied the paint quite thickly from the beginning. Time constraints meant this was not going to be a slow burner. I was slightly more confident with painting my sister compared to a commission of someone with whom I am unfamiliar. I can see many family resemblances, going back two generations. 

Jessica is a gentle, kind, warm and non-flashy girl. She is considerate to a fault and in twenty one years I've never heard her say a bad thing about anyone - although she did one suffer a propensity for laziness. I am proud of this piece because it was completed in less than 10 hours but has perfectly captured Jessica's features. I even think she squeezed out a tear or two when I gave it to her. She loves it. That, and that alone, makes it worth it.