Two More

These are my latest efforts mostly done at AVA sessions but also partly at home. I make the usual proviso that these are just my paintings and I don't hold them up as particularly good.- just mine. I have started to do more work in my `studio' after reducing my activities in other areas. I'm always looking to improve even at this late stage of my life.

Wisham Woman from as Edward Curtis photograph c1900

 16" x 12" Waterford High White 140lb (300gsm) not

This portrait did involve a slight change of technique in that I dried the painting using a hair dryer, between each phase - a la Gerard Hendriks. My fellow painters said they liked it better than some of my looser and more contrasty efforts but I'm not sure I want to take that route. Actually I don't but I continue to experiment..

Colours used were various combinations of  Cadmium Red Light, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Cerulean, Ultramarine blue and Transparent Orange. Usual brushes.  

Back to animals! "An Otter" 16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb (300gsm) not

My main interests are portraits, animals, birds and the occasional still life. I've gone right off landscapes and buildings. I do other subjects when they are in the programme of my AVA group. I aim for a Colourful result using arbitrary colours - those that aren't actually there - as do Charles Reid and Gerard Hendriks.

Chief Washington - Second Try

Not being really satisfied with my first attempt at Chief Washington I thought I'd have another try. I decided not to be too hung up over how close the resemblance was and re-visited one of my favourite Charles Reid books `The Natural Way to Paint'. When I told Charles this was one of my favourites he seemed surprised but I can only say the chapter on features is one I've studied many times.

Chief Washington 16" x 12" Fabriano Extra White Artistico 140lb (300gsm) not

I approached the previous version in a different way to my normal practice and this is even more `way out' if that's the right word. Actually I'm somewhat apprehensive about possible reactions. These Indian portraits are tough using these old monochrome photographs, with so much detail obscured and I find it hard to know what to do with these `missing' areas. 

Skin colours were Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber and Cobalt Blue/ Cerulean. Also some Cadmium Red and Translucent Brown. The hair was a mixture of Ultramarine Blue, Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna. His clothes are Raw Umber and some Gold Ochre.

I only used three brushes, the Isabey No 6 retractable for the features and the Escoda Kolinsky retractables sizes 8 and 10.   

I don't suggest for one moment that this is good just an experimental painting trying different ways of tackling this subject. I won't be posting much this month as we're moving home on the 10th, and also going on holiday on the 13th for a week. I didn't anticipate that these things would be so close together but that's how it has worked out.  As a result I'll be offline until at least the 23rd when my cable company are scheduled to install broadband et al in my new home.