When I began this painting, I had high hopes that I'd have the luxury of working entirely from life.  During the first sitting, the subject announced her intention to bob her hair, sooner rather than later, and that took care of that idea.  Still- in the few hours that I did have with that braid in place, the majority of the piece went down happily unto that silky mahogany panel, and with a quick reference photo of that fat braid I brought it home.
   As mentioned in earlier posts, the initial concept was to paint a brown painting, using all those lovely tubes of umbers and siennas, etc. that just don't get any play on my palette.  Mental block ?  That didn't work either- my browns are composed of everything but. A closer look at this piece is available in  the "Tender Paint" portfolio of the "Works"