Saving face

The outline of her drawing was the vital template. It was fairly straightforward, but manipulating the light, shade and shadows was a skill she needed to develop. It was how the character of the face was awoken... far more critical than any old experiments in still life. She couldn’t think why she had avoided life drawing and particularly portraiture in the past. But she feared her confidence heretofore might suffer a terminal knock should she not master light and shade.

But who else but Claire would see now? She alone... but she alone was the expert in her own face.