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I love this face.   It's a portrait of my husband.

Portraits always take me 2 to 3 times  to complete, with many "rests" where they sit waiting for me while I problem solve.   All the wrong marks, errant perspective, relentless foreshortening.  I use all the tools of the trade - constant measuring, triangulation, and sight size. I view it in a mirror, a photo on my cell phone, a photo on my monitor, and of course, the best trick, I view it upside down.  All these tools and tricks may help to get the dimensions right and if it's what I want, a spot on copy of a photo. . . But that's not what I really want.  I want the essence, the spirit, the loveliness, and liveliness of the soul that speaks through the eyes, the mouth, the tilt of the head, the outline of the cheek, the set of the jaw, the tenderness of the ear.  It's all there and with every new portrait I feel I get closer.  Maybe this time I got closer, I feel like I did, but maybe it's because I love this face.