Boring?

[Mary Sparrow]

Kim's previous post about "painting moods" is similar to my question. Are there parts of painting portraits that you find to be boring? I mean so much so that you really dread that part?

A couple of summers ago I was studying with Gian Cassone. It was my first experience having one on one instruction from a professional. As I gobbled up every word he said and stroke he painted, I remember him commenting "Geez, I hate this part, it bores the*%## out of me!". Bore him? I don't know why, but that comment shocked me. However, as I have painted more and more, I am now painfully aware of what he was referring to. When I paint a portrait, I am obsessed with the face, nothing about it bores me-frustrates maybe, but never bores. However, I get VERY bored with the backgrounds and struggle through them. Do any of you have "boring" parts? If so, how do you stay focused enough to give that part the attention it needs to be up to par?