Oil on canvas

This portrait was created from my drawing - Open Studio June 17, and from my memory of this model, who I have drawn many times.  I wanted her African/Spanish background to be noticed.  The book I am studying now, "Velazquez, The Technique of Genius," not only has full page photos, but discusses techniques and materials, which is gleaned from radiography and pigment analysis of his paintings.  One interesting method he created was to mix calcite with oil and pigment in order to glaze transparent layers at the end.  I tried this with marble dust, stand oil and pigment, and found it to be effective with the higher key colors.