HRH The Queen

I've painted a few pictures of the British royals, and in this 60th Jubilee year I thought I'd paint a portrait of the Queen. Not an easy subject, and I made the mistake of choosing to work from a photo that included a slightly lop-sided smile (she wasn't available to pop around to my house for a personal sitting for the painting, I regret to say!).

I never find it easy to get the portrait right when the subject shows their teeth, and this painting was no exception. After playing around with it for hours, making minute changes backwards and forwards, I've settled for what I hope is a reasonable likeness and a suitably regal disposition. I'm the first to admit this is not perfect, so I might have to wait a while longer for my OBE!! ;0)

Painted in acrylic on a 16" x 20" canvas, March 2012.