Our last portrait challenged us to put extra effort into the ears, a part of the face we usually tend to neglect.

During the process, we came across a close-up of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, which reveals the minimal paint Vermeer employed to depict a fully formed alleged pearl. It has two strokes, one of them barely visible, no hardware, and no hook. The skin beneath is not covered; it can be seen clearly. But if you stand back, a pearl appears.

There is a difference between painting illusion and painting effect, and exercising restraint can help us transcend the first to achieve the latter.

If you'd like to view the paintings we talk about in this episode, watch the video format on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/eCM1e-HweIY