This painting is from an old print I found in an antique store.  Many of the portraits that I have done have tan skin and I wanted to try very translucent pink skin (like a pearl) with some blues and greens in it.  When I paint, I set up some problem for myself in trying to stretch beyond what I have done before.  I wanted to capture a likeness and a mood in a portrait but also in this one, I wanted to try to show other colors in the skin.  

After this painting was complete, I embellished the outside with raised paste, gold and white enamel. Although you cannot see it in the photo, I also put tiny white enamel dots like tiny beads along the edge of the head covering.  Her name is Pearl.