Week 20 (3) - Pushing Back the background

I am learning so much! I was realizing that the background was a bit too bright, too evident. But as I was painting it, the items each became quite important. So in my weekly conversation with my mentor, we discussed an interesting technique of mixing a transparent "black" made of ultramarine and transparent brown oxide, thinning with solvent and brushing it on the dry parts of the background. (DO NOT do this on areas that are not dry!)
Ha! You go ahead and take a big brush of black and paint it over hours of work! See if you don't suffer the heart racing, light headed sensations.
Then you wipe it down. It leaves something like an antiquing stain to the surface. Not really glazing with medium. But a way of taking it down a bit. Looks like I'll have to do it again to some of the brighter areas on the left. But in person, it makes a huge difference in how the subject, Wayne, reads.

Week 20 (2) - Shifting gears

Worked some on Wayne's face and redid the hat. An odd hat, it is a real cowboy straw hat and quite large. Not used to seeing it on Wayne and so I'd been trimming it down. This time I went in and did it the right size. Still having photography issues with glare.

Week 20 - Building more detail in background

Still working on the background and refining angles and shapes. The perspective of the space has its challenges.

Unrelated news - though related to the mentoring part! I have had my painting "Jan" accepted into the Hunting Art Prize 2nd jurying. This is usually about 130 pieces out of about 1300 entries. There is only one prize that is awarded at their gala, April 30th. I've entered before, but never been selected to the final group.

Part of the advise given by my mentor and many others is to submit work for competitions and shows. So I've been trying to...

Week 19 (6) - Working on background

A big part of the mentoring goals for me was to have backgrounds in my work, so this project is a perfect exercise! I worked on the left side after straightening up the window on the right a bit. Trying to find the idea balance between realistic shapes and objects without over detailing them. I'm putting in two photos, one straight on and the other from the side. I'm finding it difficult to photograph in the studio because of glare...even with a polarizing lens. I did adjust Wayne's shoulder...I noticed it was too low, giving him a distorted look.

Week 19 (5) Bigger Brushes!

A good day painting, but now that I'm looking at the photo, I don't see it. I'm going to have to get better at taking pictures, too. I had to straighten some verticals. Worked on the background mostly on the top and hats. I'm enjoying the size more and more. I had some good brushes that I've finally broken out and I love them...they are soft bristles and not scratchy at all.

Week 19 (4) - Getting paint on the whole canvas

Blocking in the major shapes and lights and darks. My palette is set up for lots of little blobs of colors for use with little bitty brushes. So this is a real change.
Thing about taking photos along the way, it is a good record for me. But it also allows me to see some of the changes that I'll need to make. A bit like going to the door in my bathrobe, tho...so please excuse the mess.

Week 19 (3) And more

Roughed in body. Shown in studio with a few of the photo references.

Week 19 (2) - Bit by bit

Changed the lighting and added hat.

Week 19 - Progress on major project

Wayne is peeking from the canvas. Thought I'd show the canvas in context.
I'd transfered the lines from the drawing and started working the face. Pretty quickly, the face took over and grew beyond the body size. I'm working from a number of photos and I started with just one taped to the canvas. Good expression, lousy lighting.

Week 18 (2) - Continuing the Learning Project

To prepare for the large piece, I've done a poster study (small , 5x7, oil study exploring the color of the light). I have a lot of fun with these abstract-ish pieces. And it is a good reminder of the early impact of the scene which can be easily lost when getting into the detail.

Week 18 - Learning Project

It has taken me a while to get into the swing of things, but I've finally started making progress on the main mentoring project. I took lots of photos of my very favorite model (my husband) in different poses and locations. It was a good learning tool, just to review the photos. What makes a good portrait photo? Lighting, expression, stance...etc. And it may take a number of photos together to create the best portrait.

So after a number of sessions, it looks like a standing pose in the antique shop is the best. So I've done an 18 x 24 drawing, loosely exploring the values etc. Then, through the magic of computers, I've enlarged it to the 36x48 size I will be attempting. If I am still happy with it at that size, I will transfer the main elements to the toned canvas.