This is a study for the final portrait of Madeleine that I created for my series Private Masks. Actually, this "study," as I so niftily call it now, came after a few failed paintings (six attempts on two separate canvases to be precise). It is not my habit to plan too much when painting--I am of the "if it's not working, paint over it" school. But for Madeleine, and in at least one other case, I have had to be more disciplined about my approach. Madeleine thought the whole thing was too funny. She would!