Wednesday, April 28, 2010

I lied! I said I was done with my eccentric red head and I lied. I am never done with a painting. I worked on it some more...the eyes, the dress. This obsession of mine will never end.
The girl standing with the head scarf...was an experimental piece...at the top I'd written:

Walking through this life, trying ever so hard to be strong and walk a path with strength of character and compassion-trying to find that perfect balance between being soft or too stubborn..to find my purpose....or determine my purpose...it's a walk down the unexpected..talking to myself with every step".
I actually worked on this some more also...making the colors a little bolder...but I'm not re-shooting that one again.

I'm not sure this piece will ever find itself out of my studio...but what I've been doing lately is painting for me. Just allowing myself to let it lead me and to allow myself no rules.

The other images are just studies from life drawing sessions...the guy with the pony tail was a 20 minuet pose in Punta Gorda, Fl. while visiting my friend...and the other I think a 30 minuet pose at the Art Barn. None are refined...but I post them to show that even though I'm not posting....I'm working.

May 10th I take another class at the Palette and Chisel. This class will be on edges, color, precise drawing, etc..






Friday, April 16, 2010

Done With the Red Head


Here it is...I finally finished I think. I actually love the craziness of this painting. Something I can relate to! It's actually acrylic and pastel. Now to get it off to the framers. That will be a little fortune!
Now that I'm looking at it, I think I need to add a bolder stroke in the corner at top...too much around her face... well, like I said in earlier posts...I'm NEVER DONE with a painting...

Monday, April 12, 2010

Finished Portrait


After all this time and I finally finished the portrait I started in class. I was at least smart enough to bring the camera and ask the model if I could take her picture which she so graciously said "yes". I struggle with all my paintings..and this is no exception. My initial drawing was off so had several corrections. I think this is off a bit...but...I've spent enough time and am ready to move on.

I have to be honest. Lately I think I have regressed...and working on this portrait was proving something to myself. The perspective on this portrait was looking up at her from quite a ways below. She was on a large platform while I was low to the ground on a drawing horse. I struggled with what I saw and trying to make it work. Squinting is the best thing for an artist...so I guess I'll have to live with squint lines around my eyes!$%*


Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Long Pose Session at the Palette and Chisel


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.