Enjoy life now... it has an expiration date.



Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Blue Girl WIP #5


I meant to post another WIP before I got quite this far along, but art is so intoxicating that when I get into it I forget about everything else... including taking photos for WIPS!

Most of her face is about finished, and I've lightly drawn in some basic hair shapes. Her hair will be the next thing to do. I want to lighten up her skin a little on the areas of her face that reflect the most light- the watercolor underpainting gave quite a bit of color and needs toning down in some areas. This is fairly easily accomplished and I've liked having that initial layer down before starting with cp's. Will probably go that route again on with some other portraits.

"Blue Girl" has been the most enjoyable portrait to date. I've been much more relaxed, have had very little re-do's, and have looked forward to working on it. I'd like to think that has something to do with the hours I've spent practicing, experimenting, reading about and studying portraiture - enough so that some of the info has gelled and I can begin to focus a little more on how I want to interpret a portrait rather than how do I achieve this effect or that effect. I've got little scrap pieces of various types of art paper scattered around my art table where I've tried out different techniques and colors. This "playing around" has been a tremendous help, and I save these labeled experiments to refer to as needed.

Something else that's making a difference in my work process... I've begun to develop a basic palette that I'm comfortable with when painting skin, eyes and mouths. My palette may change as I continue to experiment, but knowing ahead of time what colors to use to get the effect I'm after saves a lot of what my mother would call "dithering around". So far the pencils and colors that I "must have" are: Prismacolor: white, cream, jasmine, light peach, beige, peach, goldenrod, blush pink, rosy beige, clay rose, carmine red, henna, raspberry, light umber and dark umber; Lyra: light flesh, raw umber, cinnamon; Polychromos: light flesh, light yellow ochre, burnt ochre; Caran d'ache: light ochre, venetian red, sanguine. It should be noted that I've fairly recently started using Polychromos and Caran d'ache, so I only have a few colors as a trial and am still getting acquainted with them. So far I'm very impressed with both brands...and I'm particularly in love with Venetian Red by Caran d'ache... a wonderful color for subtle shading on faces! Other colors (for irises, hair, etc) I use as needed and haven't settled down with any particular favorites yet.

14 comments:

Rose Welty said...

Teresa, you have done such a tremendous job. All of your hard work and study have paid off - beautifully done!

Jan said...

You can certainly tell that you're liking this one - it shows in the quality of the painting. Very well done!

K said...

How delightful to follow your progress on this piece. I like that you practiced playing around with paper swatches, trying out colors and techniques, and then saving them for future use. And thank you for the critique re: your colored pencil palette.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Absolutely first class work - love it.

Gary Keimig said...

Its looking great. I'd say you have really gotten it figured out but as I know from experience there will be more to learn and experimentation will lead you. Such is art and life and that is what makes the journey so great.

Teresa said...

Thank you, everyone! I really have loved working on this portrait... and I'm excited about the next one! :-)

twincedar said...

This is looking great!

Cathy Gatland said...

Just lovely Teresa - isn't it wonderful when all the study soaks in and emerges in the art. Your palette sounds delectable - jasmine, goldenrod, raspberry, cinnamon...mmm!

Jos said...

It has been such a pleasure to see the staged progress of this delightful picture. It is a beautiful face you've captured there.

Rosie said...

I've been watching your progress with great joy - I loved the blues and the intensity of the child in the photo - your painting is developing so wonderfully - no wonder you are thrilled with what you have achieved.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Your joy and practice really show in this gorgeous portrait. Congratulations!

Unknown said...

I love the creamy...well peaches and cream look of the skin. It's lovely. The English coming out in me. LOL.. I think this will be a masterpiece .. Lovely work.

LOL I hate dithering too. I should take a leaf out of your book..and read up on portraiture.

artbykarieann said...

she's gorgeous, I work like you. almost knowing which mix of colours give the final shade, then adding a few others to tweak things, it does make things so much easier

Laure Ferlita said...

She's coming along beautifully, Teresa!

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