Running with the momentum from talking to stranger #1, I found stranger #2 in the same store just minutes later. Her style caught my eye and I immediately wondered over to see if I could convince her to be a part of this exercise. I didn't explain myself well and she thought I was drawing a portrait right then and there, from life. After a bit more conversation, she agreed to let me take a photo of her to use as a reference to draw later. With all my nerves in a knot, I took the first photo from the corner of the store the natural light didn't reach. When I showed the photo to her, I said, "does this feel like you." To which she replied, "yeah, but we should try better lighting." She was very right. As soon as she mentioned the lighting, I immediately noticed the way the shadows were cast across her face and felt like a complete amateur. I felt the weight of my oversight and realized that her input saved this portrait. I would have ventured home with a terrible reference photo and maybe not even have created this portrait. Grateful for her input, it made this portrait possible.
A time-lapse of all the marks and moments it took to make this portrait is available below. Enjoy!