Looking at the progress closer to the size of the photo reference ( 4 by 6 ) helps me spot mistakes. I wiped out some of them with a rag cloth. Using oils for this one.
Having used oils for most of these past two years, I’ve forgotten how to blend with acrylics!! I need to pull out those tubes of medium and try them out. The other change that I see from 3 years ago is the time I spend on a painting. Earlier I finished a painting in an afternoon and used acrylics. Now when using oils I cheerfully spend a week or two with them if not more 
. I tried the same with the Watermelon Seller (acrylics) but it isn’t working. And I used to worry a lot about messing up. While I still worry I have more confidence in my ability to recover from some mistakes.
“Paan Khayo..” wip Oil on a 10″ X 12″ Canvas board
Photo reference from Anil Advani used with permission.
Update : August 19, 2007 : 6th wip and I’ve reached the end. I’ll be adjusting a few bits and pieces tomorrow, signing it and calling it done. It’s been super fun painting this. I now want to make a series on the people of Bangladesh!
Update : August 20, 2007 : It’s been signed and posted on Maya.
One thing that you can try with acrylics is glazing and us a rag to blend and to get the values you want. You could try this at any stage of the painting.
This is one thing that I haven’t tried as yet. I have wanted to make an under painting and then glaze it. Somehow thought that that was only possible with oil. I shall try it out on that self portrait of mine or the watermelon seller. Both are incomplete and have been made with acrylics. Thanks so much Bob
Forgive me if you already know this, but what is a lot of fun is to water down the acrylic for your layout/drawing in two colors, then once dry glaze over a portion of the painting with a third color and the and repeat the process as many times as you like. It a little like printing. Just for fun.
I dont know most things art related
Wanted to see if i’ve understood correctly. I first use two thinned down colours on the whole canvas and then when it is dry, glaze over only a part of the canvas with a 3rd colour? Then repeat the process with the same colours? Do you have something I could see? Sorry for so many q’s. And thank you very much for your suggestions. They are always very welcome.
No problem, I love questions. For example take the first painting in this in this group (Paan Khayo), I will do a demo over the weekend and post it.
Sounds wonderful. Thank you Bob. Looking forward to the demo.
Ujwala,
Very nice, indeed! I love the expression on the face.
We loved it! Niraj thought it was very well done – time for an exhibition!
Thanks a ton Smita
It has already moved from this to another stage. not ready for an exhibition as yet 
[...] crossed my mind to make a more complete painting in acrylic and then add oil until Bob Martin suggested it. He helped me immensely by making a demo and posting a step-by-step to illustrate his [...]