Looking at Art isn't as rewarding as making it. Museum hopping and going to shows is as much energizing as it is depressing when you see the talent that abounds in the world, you're a late starter and over-the-hill. I was happy to get back to the studio to my double portrait. I played my IPod loud while I painted to make me forget the art I had seen and loosen me up. The problem with dancing and painting a portrait at the same time is portraits demand exacting strokes, but as you can see from my video, my snow scraper does work just fine as a mahlstick. I'm starting to use it for more areas of the painting than the fine line details.
I'm still working on the older boy, the upper background and the swaddling cloth. I did get into the infant's hands and arms, but I'm still feeling my way with regards to his skin tones--all the skin tones. In good time. Hopefully my next attempt won't be as grueling..JPG) |
| The passage between the two heads is difficult as I suspected it would be. But the kid is coming along and I'm getting a bit more comfortable with the medium every session. |
LOL! I LOVE the dancing, singing, painting video....! The double portrait is looking excellent, and the extra "entertainment" is joyful. Thanks for inviting us in to your studio. Color me charmed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Celeste, but a bit of the nut don't you think. I can think of more things to do than this portrait. Between matching skin tones and fine line details placed just right, frequent distractions are required to maintain sanity--and I don't care who knows it. LOL
DeleteMusic While You Work - was the name of a WWar2 Radio Prog in the UK ...highly appropriate here. The portrait impresses me already!
ReplyDeleteThe music, John, was wrong for painting this particular painting. Portraits are definitely not rock and roll. Pavarotti would have been more soothing, but I get a little jumpy with all the close up work that needs doing--and all the back up work that must be done to see how I'm doing. Good think Whistle While You Work wasn't the tune. Lauren Bacall said you just put your lips together and blow, but I can't not a single note.
DeleteI love to play especially creative music while I paint. Now why I really commented: I saw that remark at the pastel workshop about wc. Hmmmmmph! I hope to prove you wrong! :)
ReplyDeleteWC (watercolour, not water closet) Dan, isn't for me. I don't have the patience it requires if you're really want to paint something special with it--I'm talking about the masking techniques. I have no idea how to use the masking liquid--and I don't want to put something on my brushes, I'm not sure how to clean off--the directions are a bit confusing. I also like the range of textures you can get with acrylics and the finish you get with oils. If I needed watercolour effects, I would reach for the acrylics first. I'm currently thinking of doing acrylic underpaintings with an oil paint finish--as soon as this portrait is gone.
DeleteI also don't really like working on papers, except for pencil and lately charcoal. I do like stretched canvas and that nice bounce of the brush. I'm going to watch you closely; I hope you do entice me to try it again. My temperament isn't traditional watercolor; I like wet on wet spontaneity and then perhaps some definition.
I forgive you. I regretably or fortunately have my full time employment so didn't realize looking at my phone (that is smarter than me) that that was a video on top. You rock girl!! That's the way to paint! (remember to paint between your dancing.)
DeleteOh and that's a really nice watercolor in your header. :)
DeleteCaught me making a fool of myself did you. --Making movies is fun Dan much more fun than portraits in oils. I had my workout music on--rock and roll and a little bit country--absolutely wrong for my task. I needed heavy duty classical--maybe Richard Wagner? It's very tedious work when you're not at all sure about what you're doing. But I do think it's coming a long nicely. I'm getting the hang of glazing and scumbling and mixing skin tones. I'm using my snow remover constantly--much more than I did this or last winter on the car. It works as a mahlstick, which you really need with oils--but the finish, as I said, is gorgeous--semi satin gloss.
DeleteVideos are interesting. That was my second and doing it, I learned how to cut the film. Now I want to know how to splice it and get rid of long boring parts. My kids will like it.