Portrait Update

I squeezed a small amount of painting time into my day today and managed to practice some new techniques that Don showed me in class last week.  I gave myself over to the techniques and didn't worry about  getting it right as I develop my skills.  It was fun and interesting to be brave and try a new approach that was more 'painterly'.

You can see where I have added some colour to the background and changed the horizon line of the lake so that it is no longer competing with the eyes and face of the portrait. I may move it further yet as it creates quite a visual line right across the painting with the folds of the shawl.  I have cut back into the hair reshaping it and will rework it so that it has whispy bits going back over the background if that makes sense. I rendered the left eye in using the new technique and have yet to refine the shape and size.  I have also moved the mouth to the right and have yet to paint over the original position which you can see showing through like a black smudge at the side of the present mouth.

If you are interested in the techniques I've been using - painting the image rather than drawing then 'colouring in' with paint, I've found two great YouTube tutorials that demonstrate what I've been doing.  Their technique and mastery far exceed mine of course!  Check them out if you are interested.

"Lloyd" by Zimou Tan

Demonstration by Sergey Gusev

Portrait Progress

The rough monochromatic underpainting I left you with last and a little peek of part of the reference I am using for this image.  I am actually using more than one reference for this which has confused me a bit but I'm working it out.

 Today in class I started to add colour.  The hair is intentionally wilder and bigger than it needs to be so that I can cut back into it with the background colours and then work back over it again with hair colour.

Here is Don demonstrating a particular technique for rendering the eye.  I get to further refine this and then use the technique myself to do the second eye.  Will try to remember to take photos to share with you.  If I was very clever I'd make a vimeo or youtube clip for you but that may be stretching my technological capabilities.  Also would put lots of pressure on me to 'get it right' for you! 

 Here the mouth and nose have been moved over to the right of the image as they were a bit off originally.  This is where I left off today.  Lots more to do but it is starting to come together.  Remember you can click on the images to see them at a larger size.

Studio Tour 2 and what's on my easel.

Life has changed quite suddenly and significantly for Jeff and I since my last, long ago post.  My brother and his two little boys have moved in so we've packed and cleaned a house that sold and made space here in our home for the boys.  They live in the rooms off my studio and having new demands on my time and having someone living so close to the studio has changed how I do things a bit.  I'm finding my feet again though and my health has coped really well with the changes which is great.

So, back to where I left off.....

The main wall of my studio which doubles as both display and storage for my art.  Yes my studio is YELLOW!!  Oh so yellow.

During Open Studio's the children's playroom doubles up as my gallery space and we bring tables in for Aannsha's felt and any textile art made by my sister and I.  This room is right next to my studio and joined by an open arch so it flows quite nicely as a viewing space.

As for what is on my easel.....I am studying portraiture at present and continue to be amazed that I quite enjoy it!  I am currently painting a young Merryl Streep in the French Lieutenant's Woman. 

I prepped the canvas in a warm tone and then drew a very rough image on with charcoal.  I was less than happy with this and it sent me into a state of anxiety.  My homework was to complete a detailed drawing to then paint over.  I became so anxious and scared to draw that I threw out my class instructions (sorry Don!) and used the painting technique I use when painting animals....block in large shapes with a big brush and focus on tones.  I rubbed out most of the charcoal and then just went at it with the paint.

I had previously mixed up a tonal run of colour using Burnt Umber and white and used that to just get some paint on the canvas.  I was in such a tizz that I ran out of paint and just kept stretching it across the canvas as best I could.  It NEVER occurred to me to mix more.  What a dill.  As you can see this is very rough and was done very quickly.

 

Starting to refine the image.  Looking at the photograph I see some hard edges and splotchy bits of paint that need attending to.  A lot more work needs to be done to refine and accurately depict the face and hand but I'll get there. She doesn't really look right at present.  I may also change the waterline in the background and move it up or down a bit.  Not sure about that. 

Here is the paint run that I used to work on this tonal underpainting.  I used Burnt Umber for my dark and Tinting white with a trace of the umber for my lightest light. I made a value scale from the two and worked from this.

Here is an example of a portraiture palette I had set up for another exercise.  The image has rotated strangely and I use this with the colours running down from dark to light on the bottom (rotate left 90' in your mind!).  First is a cool run of colours, then bronzes and then warm.  Unfortunately these colours are not quite right for this current portrait so I'll have to work out how to mix the right colours to match the skin tones and hair for this portrait.

I'm off to work on this portrait in class tomorrow so will photograph my progress and post it for you now that I've come back to blogging.  Can't wait to see what the other girls in my class have done. There was some great work last week - I of course am dragging along behind everyone!

Studio tour. Part 1

Hello!  Here I am in a publicity shot for our Open Studio's.  I thought you might like a peep at my studio, how I set it up and use the space etc.  My studio is in the living area of the granny flat that we have at one end of our house.  The flat is open to the house and adjoins the formal living area or 'play room' which I use for my main gallery. 

Here I am working at a folding table covered in oil cloth.  Depending on what sort of painting I am doing I either stand here at an easel or sit as I am in the photograph to work on pieces.  After far too much scrubbing of the floor Cinderella style, I have finally taped a huge drop cloth down under all of my work areas.

A different view of my painting table.  You can see my newly acquired Ektorp shelving unit from IKEA which I am having a total romance with. Previously I had a lovely but dark old Narnia style wardrobe and a cane hutch here.  This shelving unit is narrower, makes better use of space and has really opened up the studio as well as lightening things up.  As it is still relatively new, I am still having fun working out how to arrange my bibs and bobs in it and how to most effectively use the space available to me.

When I work here I can look straight out the sliding door into the gardens of my back yard.  The whip bid is my most frequent avian visitor which is such a treat.  When I sit in my knitting and crochet corner by the door he is often not more than two feet from me.

From this angle you are better able to see my little desk where I do my graphite and charcoal drawings and any administrative work, journal writing, planning and the like.  The left side of the shelving unit houses mainly art books, paperwork and some fabric.  Art materials tend to be towards the right of the unit.  You can see through the arch into the play room and gallery.  These windows look into my front garden so whichever way I look I see gardens full of birds and butterflies, the odd possum, goanna or other visiting wildlife.  Lucky girl.

I'll share my other work spaces and some close ups in upcoming posts.

Sandy xxx

An Inspiring Day Out Part 2

The Wood Expo had some great activities for kids.  A large area full of hay bales for kids to play in, the usual face painitng, a couple of woodworking tents where little people put together pride filled oddments and then there was the activity that drew the attention of Miss R and myself.

Tables full of an abundance of seed pods, feathers and the like. Hmmm.  What can be done with these?  Well, for the princely sum of $2 you were given a ball of clay and a free hand to make whatever you liked. Bush fairies, princesses, unusual creatures.  Now for Miss R and I, this was perfect as we are both collectors of such things and cannot seem to set foot outdoors without returning with some sort of leaf, seed, rock from nature.....

 Miss R found a little spot to work on her masterpieces, made her selections from the wonderful things on offer and got to work.

The first masterpiece produced was a bush fairy with sweet little seedpod eyes and the longest neck ever.

I made my own version of a bush fairy.  I loved using the pod from a waterlily for the skirt.  I think that is what they were anyway!

Here are some of the other masterpieces that were left on display and out to dry.

Miss R stayed here for so very long it even tested my patience (I ended up wandering off in search of the fudge stall).  She had an absolute ball and I thought it was a wonderful, affordable stall based on a brilliant idea. 

An inspiring day out. Part 1

On Sunday we had a family outing to the Maleny Wood Expo which is an annual event for us.  This year we took my Mum and our niece along for the day.  It was quite a bustling event which is fantastic for the organisers.  It was a simply glorious day too although a bit chilly for little Miss R.

There were the usual wood turned pieces.  I fell in love with some spurkles (for stirring your porridge) but was so sidetracked by so many other wondrous things that I left empty handed after forgetting all about them.

My favourite form of woodwork are the hand carved pieces.  I like whittling too and my eye lingered over the whittling knives before I gathered myself and walked away.  I don't think I've shared my strong desire to do do woodworking, pyrography or pottery with you here on this blog.  Life has just been too strained and full to try anything new.  Jeff's patience would be sorely tested too as he things I should stick.  to... one....thing!!!  Where's the fun in that!

 What's a wood festival without a carved Yoda figure? 

This was one of my favourite pieces of the day.  Sadly I didn't get to see it close up due to the crowd so I held the camera way up and hoped for the best.  One of those days where being so vertically challenged is an annoyance.

I was so pleased to see workshops taking place where people were happily trying something new and enjoying themselves. 

The festival also included handcrafted outdoor furniture, timber sales, wood toys and oddments, home decor, information tents set up by Barung Landcare, the Guide Dogs association, there were bird watchers, a snake tent, demonstrating tree surgeons swinging up high, street perfomers, a concert hall, chain saw mills, and wood chapels for hire. It is well worth a visit for those who are interested although it is no longer as affordable to attend as it once was. 

I'll share our favourite and most creative part of the day with you tomorrow.

For Viv

Viv recently reminded me most kindly that I had been neglecting my blog and not updating.  She is quite right. Although I have been stressed and oh so busy, I have been doing things and photographing them to share with you.  So much has happened and I think I'll be a bit slap dash in my approach to sharing.  I can't seem to get my mind around going back in time and sharing things chronologically.  Today is more of a 'what do I feel like sharing day?'.

Today was knit and natter at the park and here are photographs of the view for the past two weeks.  The  top photograph being today's photo.  Cool and cloudy.  Just right.

 The plein air watercolourists were out enjoying themselves in front of the cafe.  

I finished making my Lucy cushion today. It was originally intended to provide a more comfortable seat for a hard round kitchen chair but I've turned it into a lovely spuishy couch cushion.

It was busy up the hill today.  There were hazards, dutifully marked with witches hats and a wheelie bin much to the shock and complete incredulity of two English visitors.

Can you see what they are protecting?   Here's a closer look.

A big fat carpet snake slowly digesting a meal.  Such a healthy big boy or girl and unselfconsciously right next to the path between the cafe and information centre.

I have much more to share including a tour of my studio for you and I will post those over the next few days.  More art, craft and an awesome day out at a Wood Show to come.  See you tomorrow and sorry I've been away so long.  As many of you know, life is a bit tough still but we are getting there.

Sandy xxx