All my studio works are based on sketches I draw while traveling the world. In 2017, I was in Portugal at the gala dinner for a watercolor show. We listened to a woman named Cristina sing traditional Portuguese Fado chants. Despite not knowing a single word of Portuguese, I quite accurately understood that she was singing about unrequited love. Her performance was very artistic and emotional.  She poured her soul out, and one could understand the song without translation. I could not take my eyes off her as I sketched. Later I came up with an idea to paint a watercolor series on Portugal, and of course the music had to be the first topic.

Here are some sketches I made while listening to the Portuguese musicians and singers.

This is my preliminary pencil sketch on 140lb. watercolor paper.

I began with a large brush to add light and transparent tones while painting the faces and light in the window. I used Naples Yellow, Hansa Yellow Light, Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue, Burnt Sienna Light and a bit of Wisteria.

Using the same brush, I filled the entire sheet of paper with the middle tones, leaving a blank area for the details of her magnificent scarf. Mix Neutral Tint with some colors that you already used in your painting. I did that with Cerulean Blue Chromium to add some coolness, and Burnt Sienna Light to add some warmth to the background.

Then I added more mid-tones to the face and the scarf.  I used Cerulean Blue Chromium for the eye shadow. For her scarf, I mostly painted with Naples Yellow and Hansa Yellow Light.

For setting the darkest, dominant tone of the entire piece – the velvet dress – I mixed Perylene Violet and Perylene Green to make rich, deep, dark shades instead of using black paint straight from the tube.

I enhanced the faces and hands of the singer and guitar player with a thinner brush with Burnt Sienna Light and Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue.

Next I added some red on her lips and manicure with a fine brush using Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue.

To finish the work, I waited until my paper is nearly dry to further enhance the details of faces and hands, as well as special features, such as the huge turquoise stone ring which I painted with Cobalt Teal Blue. Deciding that I did not like the red nails, I washed off that color so that it would not divert attention away from the ring.

My favorite DANIEL SMITH paints for my palette:

• Buff Titanium
• Naples Yellow
• Hansa Yellow Light
• New Gamboge
• Pyrrol Scarlet
• Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue
• Quinacridone Red
• Quinacridone Lilac
• Perylene Maroon
• Perylene Violet
• Cobalt Blue Violet
• Cobalt Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Cobalt Teal Blue
• Cerulean Blue Chromium
• Prussian Blue
• Prussian Green
• Perylene Green
• Mars Yellow
• Burnt Sienna Light
• Raw Umber
• Burnt Umber
• Payne’s Blue Gray
• Neutral Tint