Concetta

This beautiful woman is Concetta, and she lives here on Kauai.  I spotted her one day while having a salad at Costco.  She walked by me and I was mesmerized by her.  I couldn’t take my eyes off of her because she was so darn beautiful!  I watched her as she got something to eat, and came and then sat down at the other end of the table where I was.  She sat there with perfect posture, then bowed her head and said a little prayer before starting on her food.

Holy smokes - how can I get a picture of this lady so I can paint her?   Well, the only way was to go up to her and ask, so I did.  I went up and sat next to her telling her that I wondered if it was ok if I spoke to her for a second.  She was very friendly, smiling saying “Of course, what can I do for ya?”  I told her that I was a portrait artist, and I would love to paint her just because she was so darn pretty!  I told her that I work from photos and would need to get together with her to take some pictures, but I would then just give her the portrait for free, no strings, I just wanted the exercise to do her face.

Needless to say, she was surprised, but flattered and fortunately agreed.  She came up later that week and we sat and took a couple of photos.  This is the photo that I worked from and here is the painting.  I finished it in one day because I was having such a good time.  I called her the next day and told her to come and get her portrait - she was shocked that it was done already and that was fun for me.  I told her I was able to do it fast because of the paints that I use, Genesis Paints.

I have painted Concetta 3 times and I have painted her daughter Rio once.  Rio has a face of an angel and I had a hard time capturing her beauty as she is overwhelmingly beautiful.  Sweet 16 and just as sweet as she is nice.  Everytime I see her I tell her that she doesn’t belong here on this little island, but on the cover of Cosmo!  That is my story about Concetta, and that is how I got started in painting black faces.  I love the features, the hair, the skin tone and all that goes with doing their portraits.