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Dear Beth,
One of the great wonders of oil painting is that you can start out in so many different ways to achieve a spectacular result.
If I were new to oil painting I would buy Peggy Baumgaertner's video series - worth buying, of course, even if you're not new at it - because it takes you step by step through an entire head and shoulders. You can actually see what she's talking about, from point A to B, all the way to Z. Peggy says she is an alla prima painter but she isn't "premier coup" (think: Richard Schmid). Peggy doesn't underpaint in the traditional sense - she paints "into the soup" in layers.
I wanted to point out Peggy's method to you (it's also the Egelis' method, by the way) because I sense that you're trying to combine underpainting methods with direct painting methods.
I don't believe that there is "one" way to paint. In fact, I'm starting to believe that "Character Equals Destiny" insofar as an artist selects a painting method. The painting method will, in fact, choose you. In my own work, I'm trying to combine alla prima with a type of initial underpainting.
I don't know if Karin scrapes everything down when she underpaints, but that's what I'd do with your painting as I see it on the forum - the brush marks are causing reflection, and you won't want brush marks when you move to a finish layer (unless you want a "Russian Impressionist" style).
Love the loosely clasped hands - make sure your frame won't cut them off at the bottom edge.
This will be a lovely painting.
Linda
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