[Brenda Ellis]

I'm taking my time and really trying to plan out every aspect of this portrait before I touch the canvas.
I did this value sketch to see if the composition works.
I am sure about the idea of the painting, but I'm not sure about the composition. The idea is a current version of himself is in the foreground as the "portrait" and a much younger himself is in the background working with some actors. I want the background to not seem literal. I plan on using very very toned down colors in the background image; almost like a sepia toned image but with a slight bit of color here and there. The portrait itself will be realistic coloring. I am hoping that the color difference will help keep the background in another "world".
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I am wondering if everything looks smunched in. It's a 20"x24" canvas and I could go larger.
(This is not a commission so there is no client to please.)
Thanks!