Model Relaxing

It can take many sessions for the model to be totally at ease. But even with the model relaxed, at the beginning of a two-hour painting session I’m tense when confronted with a virgin white sheet of expensive watercolour paper. My first attempt is usually too reserved, my second attempt is better, but it’s not until towards the end of the session that I throw discretion aside and loosen up. In this painting, the dark background adds, rather than distracts.