There is a local bed & breakfast inn which is a turn of the century Victorian house - lovely inside and out, and named Christmas House. I was there for plein air a couple days ago, and decided on this narrow view of a portion of the front porch. The light was just right.
Once again, another breakthrough night of painting. Like last week, I was actually painting - I was free to paint without reservation, and able to be expressive. There's really no way to describe the difference between recreating what you see, and really painting. Even Joseph commented on that. I'm excited to apply this idea to other subjects.
This is last night's head study. I had such a exhilarating time. I felt that I was really painting, not just faithfully recreating what I saw. There's a difference. I am happy with the finished product, even though the process was way more important and satisfying. Not painting the eyes was only a little difficult for me. When I blurred my eyes, this is what I saw - the eyes were completely lost in the shadow.
This portrait was done in a monthly model session at a local winery. Gayle Stratford is the facilitator. This is her daughter, Christine. I feel ok about it - but I was a little too caught up in her likeness when I should have been thinking shapes and values. My favorite part is the red dress - straight cad red lite.
I think I made it through a valley last night, as I have turned a corner in Joseph's class. This could possibly be my most successful head yet. I am starting to realize that I have to simplify my subject into accurate shapes that are either light or dark, before I start with any transitional values/colors, and long before any detail is shown. This was a two-hour painting, which is why it seems unfinished. I would have liked to get to some of the collar, but I am happy overall.
This is the first head study I've done in a while that I actually like. I don't enjoy doing profiles at all, but this was the model's pose, so I just focused on the challenge. Joseph is really pushing me to see all shapes as dark or light, and to eliminate all details until later. Very difficult. But if I have the values and shapes correct, the details don't matter all that much!
Yesterday, I had the honor of demonstrating during a fine art charity auction for Learning Ally, formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. It's an organization that records books on tape for anyone with any reading disability. Artists from around the area donate a work of their art for silent auction. I had just under 2 hours to do this little painting - it was a lot of fun. The lighting on my subject wasn't great, but it all worked out.
Here's that great little red vase again. I just can't seem to get enough of that pure color. I love picking out the shapes in the vase - it's just never-ending! I'm not crazy about the daisy - I suppose I should concentrate on flower shapes at some point. One thing I do really like about this one is the orange ground peeking through that ties in with the reflection on the cloth.
