Saturday, June 01, 2013

145 Challenge - Figures

FIGURES

The time has come and I don't think I'm ready.
Figures.
The one area where I feel a lack of mastery.

Mostly because I've always spent most of my artistic life painting 
landscapes, florals, churches, sunsets, pears, maybe a few animals, etc.
Leave the figures to the portrait artists and people who really like painting people.
Not me.

Figures are scary to me.

I would like to be be able to treat them just like a landscape,
blocking in shapes and shadows, not paying attention to the fact that there is 
a PERSON or PEOPLE in there and I have to make them look like
a PERSON or PEOPLE. 
NO! 

But I'm going to give it my best shot.
I am going to try to complete two figures a week for the 145 Challenge.
If they don't turn out, well, you probably won't be seeing them!

So bear with me while I experiment with painting people.
Oh, and I figured if I gave them titles, I would have to finish them!

"WAITING" 

This is a woman standing next to an outdoor flower shop.
I have painted this once before.
Maybe I can do better this time.

 "BEAUTY"

My first nude.
I'm a little scared.
Do I try to use Old Master techniques? Nah.
Do I try to be patient? Nah.
Do I just go for it and sling paint? YES!!

Even sketching is hard. 
I have art books on anatomy.
Do I want to use them? No.
Do I want to know every piece of sinew and bone in the human body? No.
I want my figures to have wonderful curves and lines.
To heck with structure.

 "THE JEWELRY SELLER"

This is a beautiful older woman straightening her jewelry 
under the portal at old Town.

3 comments:

  1. Looking forward to seeing your figures. These sketches are great.
    You have so much movement in your paintings I know they will be fabulous.

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  2. I agree with Julie, Dee, your sketches are great. I think it's wonderful you talk about your fears and I can't wait to see the wonderful results as you "paint through your fear". You can do it lady!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, guys. Going to start working tomorrow afternoon.

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