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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Free Hand Weekend

Michael's eyes are driving me nuts--the reference is driving me nuts.  I must get a better one.




Steve, graphite and charcoal pencil study
Free hand drawing time at my house begins at seven AM, or earlier, when I sit down at my SAD light for a half hour dose of ionized air and a brilliant facsimile of sunshine.  I'm back into my boys these days.  I really made a mess of the painting I had the audacity to attempt in 2012, I thought I'd give it another try.  These are warm up sketches and something to do while just sitting there in front of the light getting rid of winter doldrums.

 I bought a starter drawing kit from the General to see what they had to offer and I love it.  It comes with a complete range of charcoal pencils of varying grades of hardness, white and black chalk like, conte like crayons, a knead eraser and the sharpest little sharpener--the kind you wish you had in your grade school pencil box, the kind that doesn't break the lead.  I am really enjoying this half hour of free handing with the General.

 I am also enjoying the fact that the grand monochrome painting exercise I've taken on has had a positive effect on how quickly I'm reading the tones in my grayscale references. The burnt umbra/white, nine step value scale seems to have been burned into my brain...

BUT I KEEP WANTING A DARK DARKER THAN BURNT UMBRA CAN GIVE.. So I added Ultramarine to the BU for a darker than the darkest tone for this alla prima oil study and I like it!  The other color I'm missing is Burnt Sienna.  I guess I'm really missing the play of cool and warm? While BU washes out warm, add white to it and color goes blue--too blue for someone who sits in front of a SAD light every morning. 


Alla Prima weekend with Michael.  Trouble with the reference is the photo was taken with a flash. Shame on me.
But that was way back when I didn't know any better--though this is a better likeness than the one in the 2012 painting.







 

12 comments:

  1. Your brain takes advantage quickly of what studies and your hands respond even faster ...
    Beautiful drawing and amazing Michael portrait, so full of expressive vitality!

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    1. This is his sour puss expression. I'd like to catch him laughing. It was a relief free handing it. I guess the drying times the other one requires are a good thing.

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  2. OMGosh Linda!!! Michael's portrait is amazing...I really love it and hope that you don't do anymore work on it..

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    1. Thanks Hilda. This one is a tough one. He has a peculiar twist to his smirk--and the light from the flash doesn't help. I have to dig deeper into my photo files

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  3. Replies
    1. I did! But felt rusty. I have to squeeze in more freehand sessions.

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  4. I am so very impressed with how much you are working on honing your skills [which were nothing to sneeze at before!] Bravo, Linda!!

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    1. Retirement does that for you. It gives you the opportunity to try your hand at the other thing you might have done with your life. I always wondered--and so did my kids. Now I know, had I chosen this path, I might have gotten somewhere, but the path I did choose, was the best for me. With no stress of livelihood, I get to follow where my curiosity leads. I am not out on a limb any more. I am an artist, a painter. Five years ago, I was just a retired designer. People like having an active, professional identity--at least I do. And it has nothing to do with money. It has to do with skill. I'm strengthening those every day and loving it, just like you.

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  5. Linda, you truly are an inspiration with your drive and pursuit of learning and excellence!

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    1. Thanks Kathryn. The fun is in the chase; it keeps you on your toes.

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    1. Thanks Agnes, but just fair is more accurate. I will do him again sometime. His expression is a tough one--but interesting enough to spend an hour or two fussing with.

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