Peter, I tried the limited palette method, all from the same palette. The colors are mostly, Winsor Newton, with Graham White. THe black is Ross, which is more lke Paynes Gray, and real thin. (I would not use Ross for archival stuff - it is too cheap.)
I mix color with my brush - most of which are sable. I use a fisk for blending and blurring.
Mike, the boy is my youngest son now 23. The girls are my granddaughters who are in all my posted paintings. I did paint these at the mall!
All from photos. I wanted to do some 8" x 10" for the practice. The face is the most important part of the portrait, so I only wanted to do the face and eliminate all the other business of a full portrait.
I appreciate your comments - I greatly respect your work.