Elise

I've attempted to make another GIF, this one did not take as much time as my first try HOORAY!!!  I will have to learn how to line up the images a bit better though... maybe I should pay more attention while photographing? Glad we can all struggle through this together:) It's been helpful to look back, as I'm learning what works best for me and what to avoid in the future. Today I tried to start by massing in the shadow and light shapes without as many construction lines as I normally use.

I believe this was the strongest stage in this study, afterwards I did not keep things unified enough.  

Here is the final sketch.

Looking Back Six Years

It's difficult to see progress in your own work, it can feel like you are putting in all you can but not seeing the results you want. I was attempting to organize my images and noticed I had a similar view of a female portrait painted 6 years ago. My first thought was my painting ability should be more advanced than this, but that is an unproductive way of thinking. My goal is to be able to dedicate more time to painting but for now this what I can put in. I think the study on the right is stronger than the one on the left, yes there is room for improvement but there will always be. It's important to see how your work has developed and continue to move forward.

It did not take long to find other examples of studies all completed roughly 6 years apart. These studies are nice to compare because they are all around the same size 8x10 in and they were all painted in 6 hours. 

I spend a lot of time trying to understand the pose while painting a figure during an open studio. When I studied figure drawing our teachers posed the models in a standing contrapposto within a very controlled environment. I believe that setup enables you to see more clearly how the figure is moving. And hopefully, make better decisions about it what to do to make sense of it in your work. I spend most of my time trying to make the bodies of these lounging ladies not look broken.

Jamilla

I have spent more time learning how to make a GIF than painting this study. Sorry for the choppiness it's my first attempt :) I initially just wanted to take pictures throughout the open studio to be able to look back at how I started as I'm still trying to figure out what makes the most sense for me as I'm painting.

Bunny

What better way to bring in spring than with a model named Bunny? This was painted at an open studio at The Palette & Chisel. I finally got there early enough to get out of the dark corner I usually set up in. Thank you uber pool. I used comparative measurements for this one and tried to make sense of her head tilted up slightly. The critique of needing a frying pan before making eggs kept coming to mind. I continued to go back to the big shape, frying pans are challenging.  

Abbey with Orchids

Two-day pose YAY!!! I tried to paint in the figure and suggest the background, her sitting at a table with orchids in a box. I spent most of the time working on the likeness of this model which I did not get but, I do think her arm looks less like a turkey leg than it did yesterday;) It's all about the small accomplishments.

Sketches

I missed about a month of open studios between getting sick followed by the flu. It was a delight to come back and meet this wonderful model.

Little still life study.

Ladies and Vases

This pose was particularly challenging for me because it moved it strange ways so it was hard for me to make sense of it.

Little study :)

What I have taken from this study is if you don't arrive an hour early (I'm guessing) for an open studio you are going to get a lot of practice with foreshortening.

Ladies, Mohawks, and Poppies

The tilt of the model's head here was challenging for me to get without making her features look like they might be sliding off here face... Also, today was dark and rainy so this was lit by artificial light which I don't have much experience with so it was tricky all over.  

Artificial lighting again. I miss the sun. 

Now I want a purple and blue mohawk too.

Figure day:)

Quick study of poppies