Fiona 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas, in progress. Follow along as I take a break from city scenes to paint a series of portraits, starting with my good friend Fiona.
Posted on August 27, 2026 by Leonard Rooney - Artwork in Progress
Fiona 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas, in progress. Follow along as I take a break from city scenes to paint a series of portraits, starting with my good friend Fiona.
Although Fiona is a friend I’ve known for a long time now, I still don’t know her face enough to fully paint her from memory. So, I start sketching from photographic reference and figure out how her character imprints on her face. The shapes and proportions.
I want to do some odd. Not a selfie-like, smiling face.
I decide to try and capture some of the feisty rock chick that she is. I shoot some more photo reference to find what I have in mind. Then, after a bit more sketching, I start in on the 11″x14″ canvas drawing with a burnt sienna which seemed a nice mid tone value to shape the face with.
I continue to block in the painting and was trying to figure out what to do for the background. I kept thinking of a concert hall or a night club and then I remembered we once went to a heavy rock venue on Vancouver’s East Hasting St, Funky Winker Bean’s, that had a suitable dark, metal, ambience. I pulled out my photos from that visit and loosely referenced the one showing the bar. I don’t want to get too detailed and distracting with the background, just the rough impression.
Next, I need a ‘rock on’ hand sign (aka “sign of the horns” or “devil horns.” Actually it originates from an old Italian symbol called a Malocchio, or “Evil Eye”). I’d already done my homework on this, I’d searched my photo library for Fiona examples (not hard to find!) and had already had this sketched out. I’d also had Fiona model her hand for photo reference. Now I just have to draw it onto my composition and block in the colour.
This is my last wip photo, it shows how far I’ve gotten today. A lot more work on the face, hair and hand. Everything still needs more work. I’m still working out the skin tones and the shadows are still a bit dark. Glazing will eventually cure that. I also did another pass on the background.
More work on the face, neck, and hair. Also, I added a string of lights to the background and did a bit of work where the hair meets the jacket.
Work and other projects have kept me away from this piece for a few months. During that time I did snap another photo of Fiona to bet better reference on how her eyes widen. It’s helped me to get them feeling more bugged out. The skin tones are improving but I need more highlighting on the hand. Also, there’s still more work to do on the hair and face. I’m getting close to being finished.