Portrait Classes

Our classroom, very bright and airy, with good lighting

   I must say I am really enjoying the classes. Lalita is a fantastic, upbeat, wonderful person; just being around her makes everyone feel better, more positive. The class is small. The information is extremely well presented, and hand-outs are provided. We even get "homework"! So it's three hours every morning,  Monday to Thursday for two weeks. My brain "feels full" after each session.
   I took the portrait of Dr. Wong to class yesterday. Lalita liked it, and said it expressed my description of the model. Her only suggestion was to darken three points around the face, to increase focus to the face. I have done so, and the result is below.
 

Three spots darkened

Another view of the classroom

We're working on portraits in "pieces" - head shape and proportions, eyes, ears, mouth ...

Lalita, helping me to define the portrait I would like to paint 

My set-up

Lalita, with another student [Betty]

Time to Let It Rest for a Day or So ...

Did a bit of painting last night

This morning's work

   I think the portrait is looking all right, but it needs a few days alone. Then I will assess again, and probably take it along to the portrait class on Monday. AS ALWAYS, please feel free to leave comments and criticism!!!

Good Call, Sandy

Before

   I would like to give a "thank you" to Sandy at http://sandysandysweblog.blogspot.com for her advice. It was a simple fix that made all the difference to this small painting. I just darkened the leaves that were  a distraction from the flower.

Looking Forward to Monday ...

1st quick sketch

More depth

Loose washes, eyes and glasses masked 

Crawling along

Still crawling along

Mask removed, start eyes

   I finished the sketch about a week ago, put it on Arches 140 lb. CP, and started painting. If left to my own devices, I paint very slowly, using thin glazes; most of the time I get where I want to be but .... SLOWLY. I have just lately trained myself to always use the largest possible brush. So I am really looking forward to a portrait class offered by Lalita Hamill of the Federation of Canadian Artists. She is an absolutely delightful young woman, and a great artist. I took one of her classes years ago.

   There are a few things I am hoping to gain from the course. I would dearly love to create much more emotional depth in my painting. I would like to paint faster, and looser at times, be less tentative. And I would like to improve my compositional skills. I'm sure there's more, but those are the big ones.

  So I will leave you all for now, and probably post late Monday, after the class. I thank you for dropping by.

The Experiment Is Done ... "Backlit"

This is where I left off

Worked on the leaves with aureolin, quin. gold, quin. burnt orange and phthalo green [YS]

More leaf color, and some spots of new gamboge
7 x 6.5 in.

Original photo

   I think, as an experiment in technique, this small painting is a success; it gives me another tool to interpret light. As a painting, I think the background is somewhat too dark over all, but that is a matter of taste. As you know, all criticisms are welcome, so please do let me know what you feel about it.
   And now, on to more experimenting ...

OK, OK, It's Not Finished, but ....

MANY glazes of background later

  
   I have been an admirer of Jacqueline Gnott's work for as long as I've had a computer [about 3 years] She paints the most phenomenal watercolors and oils of flowers and still-lifes. As is my way, I try to figure out what is being done by studying a painting, and then experimenting. I think I finally have found a way to create the effect of light filtering through leaves. What do you think???

Bruno's Gardening Day ... or ... Yes, I Pamper My Horse

Munching at the top of the rise

Looking down to Bruno's paddock/ring & to field beyond

Standing by a spot where I grow lupines, lilies, irises, calendula and others

Really getting into his work

Some serious trimming at the fence-line

Taking a short, thoughtful break

   Brunz has had 3 or 4 days of good, solid work; our riding sessions have been short and sweet, [pretty much] and he has been attentive. As I like to say, he's been wearing his "listening ears"! So I thought a bit of grazing on the back lawn would be nice - the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence.