Portrait WIP - Staged Approach Demonstration - Day 3

I thought it was about time that I shared with you the main source photograph for the current portrait project, so here it is. It's the label for the current EP of my pal, Jed Grimes. If you're interested you can find it on iTunes. Well worth a listen.

Jed Grimes - Album Cover

I further thought that you might like to see how I'm working. The next picture shows my trusty Open Box M with the linen mounted and the pigments mixed. My basic flesh colours are made with Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow and Burnt Sienna with the usual Titanium White. Changes in mixtures might be altered with the addition of a blue, in this case Indanthrone Blue or some Yellow Ochre.

Easel Set Up for Portrait

Today the adjustments that I've made are small, some sifts in shadowing and slight alterations to the mouth. After that some work on the hair.

I've now reached a stage where I'm almost at an end but need to spend some time studying how the painting fails to meet my aspirations for it. I've already spotted one or two things that might create more of a likeness than I have at present, but I want to sleep on it for a while. So I'm going to call this finished but not complete.

Jed Grimes - Oil on stretched linen 12" x 12"

Portrait WIP - Staged Approach Demonstration - Day 2

Today's work began by building on the start made in the last session of yesterday. Starting to build up the colour across the picture thereby getting a feel for the relationships as they develop was the first task.

Yesterday I'd noticed that there were adjustments to make to creases, mouth width and chin length so I started by making marks that would take account of that. I then moved on to blocking in colours to make further assessment as to deciding on warm/cool shifts and value relationships. At this stage you begin to get a clearer idea of the way the painting is taking shape and the decisions that follow on from that.

Jed - Portrait Stage 5

I purposely put in a warm tone for the shadow side to demonstrate the making of adjustments. It is too warm and also a little strong in terms of value. So in the next picture you can see the way that I've cooled it down and reduced its value.

As well as these adjustments I started the process of refining shapes. I also began work on the eyes and mouth as well as beginning to shape the hair.

Jed - Portrait Stage 6

Another night or two thinking about the next stages before taking this any further is now called for.

I hope some of my readers have taken the chance to catch up with Jed's music on iTunes.

Portrait WIP - Staged Approach Demonstration

This week's project for me is another bash at portraiture. The subject is a life long friend of mine, Jed Grimes. Jed is a musician and artist with whom I share the odd day's painting as well as our regular social get togethers. I have a number of photographs of him as well as drawings that have been done in our art sessions. The picture I chose to base the portrait on is one that appears on the cover of his latest album, so if you're interested in the source material have a look at iTunes, type in Jed Grimes and look at Heart and Hand. You might take the opportunity to sample his music or even decide to purchase the EP. Well that's the advert, so on to the portrait.

The following pictures give an idea of the process I go through in making an oil portrait.

The first stage is to sketch an outline of the main elements. This was done in this case with Indanthrone Blue diluted with some odourless spirits. At this stage I'm not aiming for the accuracy that I would want in a drawing for watercolour, just a crude starting map.

Jed - Stage 1 the initial drawing.

Once the initial drawing is done I use a weak wash of burnt siena to begin placing some of the darker shapes and finding an outline.

Jed - Stage 2 placing the darks

Once this is done I begin assessing the accuracy of the elements. In this case I decided that the eyes were a little far apart and the chin a little long. A rub of the rag and an adjustment got the yes a little closer and a resolve to shorten the chin at the next stage was planned.

Jed - Stage 3 slight adjustment to eyes.

The next stage is where the first application of colours takes place. It is after this stage that the close study of progress is made with a view to deciding on the refinements that will be necessary as a move towards applying smaller more precise strokes in the next pass at the picture. This is a good stage to sleep on progress so far. With this one I've already spotted a number of things that will ned to be addressed when I get out the brushes in the morning.

Jed - Stage 4 first colour application

February Project

Another shared project with Peter Ward (watercolourfanatic@blogspot.com).

This is a picture from a trip to Venice a couple of years ago. It's a view back to the Bridge of Sighs and the spot where most of the tourists gather to view it. Recommended it's less crowded.

I chose this as it presents a lot of different problems. perspective, recession and water just being three of the more obvious ones.

Bridge of Sighs - Photograph

Not an easy piece and as usual it bears a litany of deficiencies but it was another day at the brushes. On to the next challenge.

Bridge of Sighs - Watercolour on Rough paper 14" x 11"

Another Experiment

I've been intrigued by the way the artist Alvaro Castagnet works and was fortunate to borrow a DVD of his and having tried something from a book before (posted a little while ago) was keen to have another go. The thing that interests me is the way many of his pictures are backlit and create a sense of drama in the scene while using the value extremes to get light into his images.

Having watched the DVD I selected an image to attempt an exploration of his technique. The resultant painting is below.

What did I learn? Well the exercise reinforced my belief in the importance of value range in providing impact, a hangover from my days as a monochrome photographer. The other important lessons are to do with the notion of leaving lots of work for the viewer. Detail is largely unnecessary and my own tendency to overwork is probably a hurdle to the viewers of my work.

Another day having fun.

Nice Street Scene (after Castagnet) - Watercolour on Not paper 12" x 9"

Unexpected Opportunity

A visit to the wonderful Barter Books in Alnwick presented me with an unexpected opportunity. I spotted a small notice that advertised a life drawing class with a contact phone number. It's over a year since the life class that I used to attend folded for financial reasons, a victim of rising rents, so I rang the number to find out that I was just in time to attend a session that evening.

Attending a life class is a first rate way to hone drawing skills as well as explore the subtleties of tonal shifts in subject matter but I think it's a discipline that should be done on a regular basis to maintain the necessary skills. You'll probably have guessed by now that I found the session testing and my effort is a little wooden. As the only painting kit I had with me was my trusty watercolour sketch box the medium dictated itself.

I'll have to try and discover a life class nearer home if I'm to get any improvement in this type of work.

Life Class - Watercolour on Not paper 12" x 9"

Another Set of Freezing Fingers

When you are away from home you've got to take the chances that arise. The family party were all well occupied in hitting beaches, local shops and little museums so I took myself to a favourite spot to take in the view. It is one of the most photographed, drawn and painted views in the North East of England but it never fails to thrill. Unfortunately the old wind chill made it a less than comfortable experience and I found myself having some difficulty making accurate marks. Never mind more fun was had.

Bamburgh - Watercolour on Not paper 12" x 10"