Thursday 7 June 2012

All I want to do is paint (except the ears, maybe...)

I have been working on getting this post published all week. Started to write it, changed it, deleted it, started again etc. etc. But there are so many thoughts spinning around in my head, that at the end, I can't put into words what I wanted to write about. There are so many things I want to do right now, most of all painting, but I never seem to have enough time, and energy, at the moment.


The weather at the moment isn't helping either. It's cold, cool, warm, humid, oppressive, changing every 5 minutes, and all of that in one day, everyday. And most of all it's raining. Again and again and again. Every single day. And there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.


We had a life model again in the drawing classon Tuesday. Well, two, actually. As our model was going to be a bit late, our teacher sat for us at the beginning, so that we could get started. I really enjoy drawing life models. It's such a different experience than drawing from a photo. We were going to paint with acrylics, but 2 hours isn't really enough time for drawing and painting, and I only managed put down a first layer of the background and the dress.


I took it home and I hope to get it finished at the weekend. After having done a couple of life model drawings in the course, this will be the first time that I did a painting from a life model. It feels rather special, somehow.

But why do we have to have ears? They're a pain to draw and paint, and somehow always end up looking wrong. Portraiture would be so much easier if we all just didn't have any ears at all.... ;)

4 comments:

  1. Ugh, I am right with you on the weather! It is the same here! I never know what clothes to wear!
    I am with you on the ear thing... and hands too. They are tricky, tricky and more tricky!
    Your drawings are just lovely and certainly don't reflect your mood! You are very talented :0)

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  2. I wouldn't worry too much about those ears, you have set the atmosphere, the feeling of the piece so very well, I think she is beautifully done, I can feel for her, the fatigue at the end of a day, weariness, thoughts that tire her out. There is emotion and I love it! Maybe she is quietly meditating and emptying her mind, I love to speculate on her, a very interesting piece. Have yourself a great week-end, the weather can be a pain, especially the heavy oppressive stuff that's the worst. Take care xx

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  3. How wonderful that you are drawing and painting from a live model. Intricate things like hands and ears can be hard to capture. One of the most helpful lessons I've learnt in my recent studies into portraiture is to not consider the features individually but look at the forms, the shapes, the value and draw them. Draw/paint what you see not what you think is there. Have a wonderful weekend. xx

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  4. I don't have as much trouble with ears, as I do with teeth!
    Rinda

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