Don’s sister Joan……

This is a watercolour of Don’s sister Joan, Joy’s sister-in-law. It’s a watercolour, a medium used by Joy but she preferred oils. Watercolours are especially trying when it comes to portaits because it would be hard to correct a mistake as one’s brushtrokes are transparent. This piece actually follows a comment made elsewhere about composition  “out one side, out three sides”. It is not a rule one can google and find the history of such a thing. Going out three sides makes sure that the main subject doesn’t look like it is taking the exit. A beautifully rendered piece that Joy adjusted at some point to edit the cigarette held in Joan’s hand. Aparently Joan herself took an early exit from life as she had a shorter life than most, but we have her portrait and she will never get older, a solid characteristic of portraits.