 |
| Free hand draw-in of Ruby for palette selection. |
A sketch painted for an afternoon of color play. I had a palette of reds in mind and wanted to test it out. I used Burnt Sienna for this five minute starter sketch. It's livelier than Burnt Umbra and an old time favorite of mine. No likeness was required. I have no doubt that the short amount of time it took me to get a reasonably drawing for this experiment was a result of my thirty minute morning free hand drawing sessions.
 |
| Likeness was not the goal of this exercise, putting together a palette was. |
At the end of the day, Lemon Yellow; Cad Yel Med, Yellow Ochre, Cad Red Med, TRO, Quinacrodone Violet and Ultramarine blue were on the glass. I've tried the various limited palettes other artists use, but I have never found that the subject I was painting was compatible; my subjects and their world dictate my palette. These colors belong to Ruby.
 |
| Mr. Henry Kissinger or Mr. Spencer Tracy? One sketch leads to another. |
NOTE: Mechanical leads of the same softness as a Berol/General pencil leave a lighter mark no matter how hard you press. Berol leads give a darker dark, but also leave a grainy effect--suitable for older skin. It could be the nature of the leads--or the texture of the Strathmore Drawing paper? Just something I noticed over the last weeks. I liked the effect for Mr. Kissinger. I didn't for the younger people I've sketched.
LOVE the reds!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too! The last color I pulled was Lemon Yellow for the light side of the background, I think the green in it will stir up the reds and impart the coolness of the natural light coming in from that side? I'll trial and error again today. I do not do wet-into-wet well with oils; I'm still too heavy handed. That's left over from my work with acrylics. Old dog no doubt.
DeleteI agree - great reds and a really good idea to experiment with your palette before jumping in.I find that the subject does indeed dictate the color used, even though I do have my favorites. And really wonderful sketch of Henry - the likeness is superb. He seems to be caught in a moment of explaining something of deep intensity. That being said, I can't find a single thing in this post to describe as "interesting"! :)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how the two leads behaved this morning. You'd think a 6B would be a 6B. Red is the color for this painting. Her hair is red. Her shirt is rosy red. I keep thinking Matisse.
DeleteI chose an older reference to use--I thought maybe someone would remember the guy. But he is a few erasures away from Spenser Tracy in Inherit The Wind.
Good colour choices. I keep thinking the drawings are of Ellis! Sorry, especially as I have only had glances of him as he skips by.
ReplyDeletefree wheeling was fun. I might try that again sometime. Henry has plenty of hair. Ellis's hair is considerably thinner.
DeleteI know it is a matter of taste, but I prefer the new sketchy one. It has a great vibe.
ReplyDeleteEveryone loves the looseness of the gestural style. The initial draw-in is precise! but doesn't mean the finish has to be precise, just that the portrait is a good likeness. I'll see when I try it. I've already started a gestural finish with the tonal wash. The precise draw-in guarantees a likeness and a minimum of loose brushstrokes--hopefully. Time will tell with this experiment combining two different starts.
DeleteI knew it was Henry Kissinger before reading it....you nailed it Linda!!! and love your morning drawing session..perfect pose and wonderful colors.
ReplyDeleteI did nail him. Thank you. For a while there I didn't think I would. The likeness was in the drag to the mouth. Funny what separates Kissinger from Tracy. One line aptly placed.
Delete