Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Step 5

This shows a combination of yesterday's and today's progress. I'm still working my way around adjusting both large areas of colour to shape the features and fine areas of blending or details. Lots of work to go yet.


Saturday, October 27, 2018

Step 4

Another couple hours working on this. I'm fighting the consistency of the paint the whole time. And it doesn't help that the reference image isn't very good for the colours. However, I'll just keep working at it and hopefully it will turn out ok.


Friday, October 26, 2018

Maverick step 3

I've been sick with a cold and didn't feel like painting for a few days. I'm gradually feeling better so I did another couple of hours this morning. I'm rethinking all I've already done and I almost feel like starting over with a better reference image. I don't like the quality of it and it's effecting the painting. I'll finish this one though and then maybe start a larger one from a different photo for me. I am reworking almost all the skin tones because I didn't like them and they will have to be reworked again. I am sure this will be the painting where I try glazing at the end.


Sunday, October 21, 2018

Maverick step 2

I worked another couple of hours on this but I'm really struggling. I waited to get a set of professional paints that I thought would be so much better but I'm gradually getting out my older ones. The new ones are too transparent (the pencil marks show through), I'm having trouble mixing the colours I want because they are pigments I'm not used to,  and they are so creamy that they can't be layered because the new layer lifts the first one. I'll have to let each layer dry much longer between. So it's back to my usual paints until I have time to do small studies and see if I can use them at all.


Saturday, October 20, 2018

Maverick step 1

Today I started a portrait of my third grandson. It's 8 x 10 and in oils. I'm also using some new oil paints which are thinner than what I am used to so I can't layer them like I'm used to. I'll have to leave a day to dry between layers. So new painting, new paints and new technique. Lots to get used to.


Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Yes, it’s final

I decided I like the blue shirt so I cleaned up the brush strokes in the background and made sure the edges were painted and it just has to dry. Tomorrow I’ll be starting the drawing for my youngest grandson. I got the cradle board gessoed today so it will be ready to draw on.

Monday, October 15, 2018

Step 10 Final?

Today I changed the shirt to a dark blue colour. I'm not sure if I'll leave it that dark or if I'll lighten it to look more like denim. I'll think on it overnight and get a better look with fresh eyes tomorrow. I worked on the couple of little things that were bothering me in the face and I think the head is finished.


shirt colour fail?

I should have posted this step 9 yesterday but forgot. I finished the head except for a few corrections to go and I started painting the shirt the colour in the reference image. However, I don't like the colour. I want something richer and cosy looking. I'll correct it next session because it is easy to do with oils. If this was watercolour I wouldn't be able to as easily. The photo looks a little strange because I was using photoshop to trial a blue colour shirt. The painting doesn't have the blue in real life.


Saturday, October 13, 2018

Matteo step 8

After today's session the face is almost finished. I am still working on thh hair and want to get that finished befoe  start on the shirt. Sorry for the tilt in the photo. I was trying to avoid the glare of the lights.


Friday, October 12, 2018

Matteo step 7

Another couple of hours work and I've finished the underpainting on the hair. The face was still too wet to work on the shading. There is a little glare from the lights on this. I'll have to be more careful when taking a photo.


Thursday, October 11, 2018

photo for Step 6

I fixed one problem and can't figure out how to edit the first one. So here is the photo that was supposed to go with it.


Matteo step 6

Another morning painting and I can finally recognize the likeness. I still have more work to do on the shading of the skin tones and just the underpainting is on his neck and ears. I’ve started laying in the dark areas of his hair as well.

I’m having a problem posting my photo today because I’m trying to do it from my phone. I’ll have to wait to add it so I’ll try again later.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Matteo step 5

Another few hours work this morning. By raising the upper lid on one eye by only a millimeter the painting looks much less sad. I worked all over the face correcting colour and value and blurring edges but I still have a lot of work to do on corrections. I also laid in the first under painting on his cheek and lips. You can tell I have given up on the alla prima technique I was trying and have gone back to my usual way of applying multiple glazes of colour. I'm enjoying the oil paint results but still just feeling my way getting used to a new medium.


Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Matteo step 4

Another couple of hours work done on this. I got the background done then started working on the parts of the face already done correcting colours and values. Lots of corrections still needed but it's slowly coming along. The main problem I see right now is that he looks too sad. A slight change in the cheek shading and a lift center of the eyelid will fix that as well as the mouth when I work on that.


Sunday, October 7, 2018

Matteo step 3

Another few hours work on this. I've already reverted back to my usual way of painting with oils. My reference photo wasn't good enough to see clearly for matching colour as I go so I am back to getting the values right and close to the right colour, then I'll go over it later with glazes for the corrections.


Saturday, October 6, 2018

Matteo step 2

First day of painting. It's slow going but fun. This is after 3 hours.


Friday, October 5, 2018

Matteo

I've started something a little different for me. It's an oil painting of one of my grandsons but not done in the traditional way. I am going to attempt to do this alla prima which means going over the painting a small area at a time and putting the exact paint colour (value, and chroma) in that particular spot and as I go it leaves a finished painting behind that needs very little correcting. That is my intention, anyway.

It is fairly small (8x10") and on wooden cradleboard with gesso. The drawing was made then I have sealed it so the graphite won't move.