INSPIRATION
I am playing with three of my “what if…” Questions from last month.
- What if I painted close ups of animals faces or eyes?
- What if I limited my palette to a few colors?
- What if I make short brushstrokes?
challenges: monochromatic gold/tan
CREATION/session log
- today turned out to be a color testing day… Lots of testing of paints that seem to be yellow, gold, tan, and brown. I started to paint some pale yellows around the eye, got confused and decided I needed to paint black around the eye. It started well but an unrecoverable paint stroke convinced me it’s time to stop. I will start fresh next time.
- Today (after more color testing) I worked on the iris.
- More iris work (adding a few flecks of green). I started putting in the hair around the eye. I was careful to stop before I got too tired.
- “Today I have to be brave,” I told my PCA and created the black outline of the eye. I made a few more marks in tan and yellow before calling it a day. I reckon I have two more painting sessions and then the project is due. Time to switch to a bigger brush?
- I worked on the right side of the image. Once again, I had to pause to do some color testing. Looking at the image, I see the pupil should probably be larger, but I don’t want to risk wild marks in black. Next time: work on the inside corner of the eye (stronger outline). Then darken the right side and use a bigger brush to finish up the face. (Will I remember that when I start to paint?)
- Finished today. I picked up black paint and tried to strengthen the eye. I made some unfortunate marks and sounds of frustration. PCA Amber Harris started giving advice: “just make that line thicker.” After another couple tries, I suggested she take the brush and thicken the line under the eye. She made a very thick mark. I coached her to a couple more marks. Then I took back the brash and finished, making the right side of the paint darker and suggesting the rest of the face.
Insights:
- I like the “deconstructed “look of the finished painting.
- I felt sad and shamed about Amber’s involvement. (Much psychological unpacking to be done there! Talking with my daughter, she said “there is nothing wrong with collaborating.” A good lesson.)
- After the painting was finished, I read this article on lion’s vision. I am in AWE.
- If the eye is the window to the soul, imagine looking deeply into a lion’s eye/soul! (Dangerous, but awe-inspiring.)