我觉得画肖像很难。问题在于：该画什么？大概就是画你所看到的，或者让潜意识画出它所感受到的。古代大师们也是如此。他们是受人委托作画的。有的画得漂亮，有的则按我们现在的标准来说算不上好看。大鼻子、长脖子、高额头，或是格外丰腴，又或是显得更消瘦——这一切都受到时代风貌或时尚潮流的影响。

昨天，我用油性粉彩在两小块“Pastelmat”纸上随意涂鸦了一番。Pastelmat虽然是专为粉彩设计的，但我觉得用起来糟透了，说实话，用在这么贵的纸上实在太浪费了。我无法像用软粉彩那样修正失误，晕染起来也很费劲。我差点就把这些乱七八糟的东西扔了，但最后还是决定先去睡一觉。

下周六，村里的广场上将举办一个艺术市集。我对此没抱太大期望，但还是想去看看肖像画工作坊。据我了解，那位专攻卡通和动漫绘画的画师认为，最好从动漫入手，因为动漫人物看起来其实都差不多。但我觉得这反而更难，因为光靠线条就得把人物的个性表现出来。

我觉得这幅画画得不错，而且因为没有详细描绘服装，脸部反而更引人注目。

I find portraits difficult. The problem is: what do you draw? Probably what you see, or perhaps the subconscious draws what it feels. The old masters did exactly the same. They drew on commission. Some were more beautiful, others what we would nowadays call uglier. Big noses, long necks and high foreheads, extra plump or, conversely, thinner – everything is influenced by the spirit of the times or prevailing fashion.

Yesterday I pottered about with oil pastels on two small pieces of Pastelmat. Pastelmat is meant for pastels, but I found it a right pain to work with and, to be honest, a waste of the expensive paper. I couldn’t correct mistakes like I can with soft pastels, and blending was a real struggle too. I almost threw the lot away but decided to go to bed first.

This coming Saturday there’s an art market in the village square. I’m not expecting too much from it, but I do want to check out the portrait drawing workshop. According to a poet who specialises in drawing cartoons and anime, it’s better to start with anime because everyone actually looks the same. I think that’s actually harder, though, because you have to capture the personality with just lines.

I think it’s turned out well, and because the clothing isn’t detailed, the face stands out more.