Measure, measure, measure . . . and measure again.
Every artist with whom I have studied hounded me (and others) about measuring.
In reference to that comment about Daniel Greene's comment about it not being particularly difficult to get a likeness: I've studied with him twice, and this comment is usually in a section of his presentation where he adds that while a likeness isn't that difficult to get, it is the judicious use of color, value and edge that transforms a likeness into art.
I also studied with a charming guy named Charles Cross of Loveland, CO, who told me one time that he got into portraiture because he was endlessly fascinated by "what makes him/her look so much like that." And, of course, if you'll take the time to measure, you'll find out that his/her brow is a bit high/low, the eyes are a bit wide/narrow, and so on.
Chris Saper is dead-bang right, too. Measure, and paint. The likeness is usually the easy part. Making it art is the tough part.
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