Yipes Stripes

This is just about done, but I need it to dry a bit before adding the last details.

Julie

This photo came out a little dark, but I think I'm done.

Julie

This is after five classes. I did about two hours of work at home and will now take it to class for one more session. I still need to fix the neck, nose, eyebrows, finish the background and shirt and maybe touch up the hair. I feel like you could just keep picking away at it, but I want to be done and try another one. Just need a willing model!

Still life oil sketches

These are two sketches I did in preparation for a larger painting. I wanted to try using a bold fabric. I found this stripe and thought it would be a good fabric to start with. both of these are 8" x 8". I also found some nice dried thistle like pods that I wanted to incorporate also.

Today I worked on making color swatches using the colors from my portrait class: flake white, venetian red, yellow ochre, ivory black, and burnt umber. I used the left over paint to make the face.

Here's my first attempt at doing 5" x 7" paintings from my head. It felt weird not having any visual references. I did like trying out lots of color combinations. I was working in acrylics using some techniques from a Robert Burridge video. Need to watch it again.

So the dragon fruit sat in the fridge for few days waiting for me to get back to it. I sliced into it and couldn't believe my eyes. It was so white and so fuchsia. I love all those little black seeds. I actually think this photo is a little on the orange side, but you get the idea. The white fruit has the texture of a kiwi, but the flavor is sweeter.

This is from a few days ago. I am taking a portrait class, learning to use the old master's technique of tonal under painting covered with glazes. So this is the result after two weeks. This is called the "dead layer". We used black, yellow ochre, and transparent red oxide, and flake white. I can't wait to see what it looks like next week.

I wanted to be able to see some of the inside of the pomegranate this time. It was fun trying to get the seeds to look juicy. I think I could still use some more highlights. And yes, this tasted very good, as long as you don't mind spitting out the leftover seeds.