First, the Part a would look like a plain black canvas, so I'm sharing a photo. Suffice it to say that I painted white gesso over the old painting then used a palette knife to load on some shiny Carbon Black. When that was dry, I first painted down the shape off the face by … Continue reading Self-portrait Project Seventeen (Part b) – Laying Down Some Contrasts
Self-portrait Project – Starting Something(s) New from this Old Model
As mentioned in recent posts, I've tired of the full frontal portrait and want to see what I can do with this profile. I feel there will be more possibility to observe the details of my own face this way. I've been successful in the past using black and white photos to work from, so … Continue reading Self-portrait Project – Starting Something(s) New from this Old Model
Self-portrait Project Sixteen (Part d) – My Memory Of Me Is Clearly Askew
I think I'm done with this one... for now. I'm not sure what else to do, because the more I add, the further away from m myself it feels. Just to remind you, I was inspired by the memory of catching a glimpse of myself passing in a mirror. I was slouching and had a … Continue reading Self-portrait Project Sixteen (Part d) – My Memory Of Me Is Clearly Askew
Self-Portrait Project – Sixteen (Part c) – Is It Strange That…
... I like the early steps so much. What does it say that I feel so much satisfaction from the results I'm getting in the earliest steps that I wonder if it is ok to stop here? The digital image is far more raw looking than the live one, in that it shows the details … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project – Sixteen (Part c) – Is It Strange That…
Self-Portrait Project Fifteen (Part d) – The Simplest Solution Often Works Best
Back to the struggle of what colour does the shirt need to be... I painted it light grey, added pink all over it, then considered unbleached titanium... only to then consider just making it black. I could add highlights after if I wanted. Before this point, I was also wondering if I should add a … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Fifteen (Part d) – The Simplest Solution Often Works Best
Self-Portrait Project Fifteen (Part c) – Struggling with Colours
The hair was the easiest choice... almost. I wanted a flat black and decided to do a base of Mars Black with a little Paynes Grey over it. I had contemplated adding some light grey highlights (perhaps an unnecessary touch of reality). The glass were the blues in my own glass - also an easy … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Fifteen (Part c) – Struggling with Colours
Self-Portrait Project Fifteen (Part b) – Take a left and dive in!
I wasn't satisfied with the acrylic washes on paper. It felt too timid and I wanted to really challenge myself. I liked the face I painted, but wanted to redo it differently. I've been enjoying the use of the pallet knife to build volume in my still life paintings and wondered how it would work … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Fifteen (Part b) – Take a left and dive in!
Self-Portrait Project Fourteen – Product of a Welcome Distraction
I knew I had to give in and work with my brushes and acrylics for the class, so I dove in and started with a suggestion the teacher gave us... use washes. Frankly, I believe I only have half an understanding of this technique and my level of patience in working the slow build-up of … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Fourteen – Product of a Welcome Distraction
Still Life Project 2020 – In Hindsight
This project brought me highs and lows. There were days I didn't want to continue painting and got bored of the subject... That's when I challenged myself the most... first to reconsider compositions and then to reconsider materials (or how I was going to use them). I'm glad this project is over. I don't know … Continue reading Still Life Project 2020 – In Hindsight
Warped Two – I gotta move on from this now…
I've added some yellows, deepened the blacks, touched up spots with whites, and lined in some outlines... am I satisfied? No. I can't decide what to add or if I've already gone too far. I'be been staring at this composition in one form to another for over three m months now and I am frankly … Continue reading Warped Two – I gotta move on from this now…
