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| Michael's eyes are driving me nuts--the reference is driving me nuts. I must get a better one. |
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| Steve, graphite and charcoal pencil study |
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.
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| 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. |
Your brain takes advantage quickly of what studies and your hands respond even faster ...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drawing and amazing Michael portrait, so full of expressive vitality!
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.
DeleteOMGosh Linda!!! Michael's portrait is amazing...I really love it and hope that you don't do anymore work on it..
ReplyDeleteThanks 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
DeleteGood work....bet you enjoyed that?
ReplyDeleteI did! But felt rusty. I have to squeeze in more freehand sessions.
DeleteI am so very impressed with how much you are working on honing your skills [which were nothing to sneeze at before!] Bravo, Linda!!
ReplyDeleteRetirement 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.
DeleteLinda, you truly are an inspiration with your drive and pursuit of learning and excellence!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn. The fun is in the chase; it keeps you on your toes.
DeleteI like it a lot Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks 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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