Tuesday I got up at 5 a.m., met Gerrie at Starbucks and headed to Chicago for the Palette and Chisel. We thought we were being smart by getting there early and getting a good spot in the studio. Well, when we got there almost every spot was already taken! We weren't so tricky after all.
This was my first time painting the figure (or half) other than the portrait class I just took. I struggled. When I go to these things I realize what I need to work on.
Everyone there uses oils....and I of course I use acrylics. Using retarder with acrylics makes them work just like oils. I know...because I use to use oils. In fact I actually had the old problem of not being able to go over some areas because it wasn't drying and was still too slick. I need to use less retarder next time.
I was the worst one in the class. Everyone else looked like the old masters. They were all just beautiful!!!! I felt really embarrassed at first but then I thought..."If every ones paintings looked so beautiful and like the old masters, then at least mine was more original". That's the way to take a bad situation and make it positive! I will not be humiliated into giving up...I just won't!!!
The frustrating part of painting from a live model versus photographs is that every time the model took a break....I had to repaint the folds in her dress...repaint the arms or the profile. It was maddening to say the least.... They are live, breathing people...and yes...they move!
I cropped off the bottom of the posted picture because I didn't get a chance to paint them and it just looked too funky... Also her nose looks big as Gerrie put it...but...hey...it was big. I don't go for pretty...I go for what I see.
I plan to drive in tomorrow and do a 3 hour session.
No comments:
Post a Comment