Rachel Bloom

Portrait of actress Rachel Bloom, star of the musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I loved that show.

So let’s talk about the painting. Freehand sketch that I then compared to the reference photo. I had it pretty accurate! I came up a tiny bit too wide on the lower curve of her hip, but the rest was pretty spot on. I was anxious about trying to get the facial likeness in a full figure frame, but I think my techniques are actually improving. I remember feeling like this was the first time I was really seeing the shapes in the hair, and it may be the best I’ve done with that.

The dress looks pretty great. I’m particularly happy with the edge where it drapes off the edge of the piano. Speaking of, with precious little detail, it definitely reads as “piano”. I obsessed over those hands, and they’re… not great. Her leg, though, I basically just dashed off and I think it looks excellent. I suspect there’s a lesson in there somewhere.