This isn't me, but it's the expression I often have on my face after I've painted one of my sketches. From a photo on morgefile.com, posted by anamaizing, here.
I checked out a book from the library by Charles Reid, Pulling Your Paintings Together. The whole first section was on contour drawing, which I love to do. It has inspired me and I'm on a sketching binge. That's a good thing, but I got it to learn how to paint. I just, haven't gotten to that part yet because I'm having so much fun sketching! So, after about ten or so faces, I decided to paint one. I went a little crazy with the colors, but I liked it! Yes, I said that. I like it.
I've been doing some thinking. It's been pointed out to me that I am incredibly hard on myself. (I can see your eyes rolling! I know, I know, it's about time I got the message!) But, I've been trying to figure out why and I think I have it down to this: I like to sketch and sometimes I think I get a little too attached to my sketches. I'm just learning to paint and hardly know anything at all about color. This makes for a bad combination, because if I like my sketch too much, I'm disappointed if the painted version isn't something I'd hang on my wall. This definitely has to stop, because 1) I'm sure you're tired of my moaning, 2) Fear of messing up my sketch makes it harder to do, and 3) Fear of messing up my sketch means not practicing very often and therefore, not improving!
Besides, I really want to know how to paint!
I like it, too!
ReplyDeleteI can related to your posting above, but I think we all tend to be a little bit too critical of ourselves and art work. Your works are very creative, colorful, and well put together. Also, I thank you for all the encouraging things you have said about mine and others works.
ReplyDeleteWow - you did a great job with this one. The expression (which I would have thought would be awfully hard to do) is perfect! And for all of your "moaning" about color, I love the creative color combination, especially on the right side of the painting. There is a pretty cool book called "Art and Fear" by David Bayles & Ted Orland you might want to check out, by the way. One anecdote in the book: pottery class - 1/2 the class told to make only one pot, the best they possibly can; 1/2 class told to make as many pots as they possibly can w/o regard to quality. Who had the better pots in the end? The ones with quantity - they naturally learned with each subsequent pot. And finally (sorry so wordy), congrats on your biggest month ever!! :)
ReplyDeleteI really like the expression too. The colors are very nicely mixed and created a whole new psychedelic feeling to it.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah Raena, for your question on my last drawing... it took me about 4-5 hours. They usually take me around the same amount of time each. I don't sit and draw 4-5 hours straight because I only draw at night. Rought sketch is less than 30 minutes, light shading and some level of detailing takes 30 mins - 1 hour. And then the rest is just completing the whole drawing, usually the hair and the dark-to-light areas, and the weight of it, those take the longest time.
Thanks again for your comment ^^
You really captured this expression. This is really good. Skin tones are not easy and this whole painting works. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteI think that u r veryyy good in translating the body language into a sketch..thats really hard and u did it very well...
ReplyDeletegood luck
peace
Suzan Q.