Garden chores

Its still in progress. I am just about done with filling the canvas with the overall colors in the painting. Yet to build it all up and finish it off. I'll be sure to post when its done.  

The Exhibit

The subject lends itself well to studies, good for drawing and exercising the value scale. I want to aim for more finesse and varied brushwork the next time around. 

White Dress

I hadn't thought about what I wanted to paint next; and so decided to rework an unfinished under-painting from earlier using the puddles of dried paints that I had left on the palette. This was an effort to reduce waste and an experiment with inventing color from a black and white reference. An exercise to get better at understanding values. I am happy with how it turned out and hence pretty pleased on many levels! :)

Ms. Murphy

The one thing I have learnt from trying to paint portraits is to not give up! And it feels like a real achievement when at some point the sketch begins to look like the person you are trying to paint. Every small shape and every little curve is so important to achieve the likeness and to me, painting faces is the most difficult thing yet and that is why I love it so much too! I am also posting a desaturated version of the painting above; gives a good perspective of the value scale. I gave this sketch to E as a Christmas gift, and I am of course elated to know that she is happy with it ! :)

Value Planes II

Landscapes value sketches are difficult! especially when you have to indicate two colors of the same value. I might go over this one with some color to see how it turns out. 

Value Planes

Working on indicating the sky, the flat, the slanted and the vertical planes using values. Gets a little tricky because the lightest value in the darkest plane has got to be darker than the lightest plane itself! A bit of a mind bender, but fun nonetheless! 

Back Again

An early in the day effort, all while trying to keep myself from biting my nails off during the immense excitement from some amazing tennis this morning! Though most of the work only went in after it ended. I am not very fond of classical realism but it is great for practicing drawing and the subtle value shifts. I changed my hold on the brush a few times and had more control than I had thought was possible. And starting with a black canvas is not something I might repeat. The colors seemed off, was difficult to get a handle on the darks and I couldn't achieve the 'cast' look with the same palette as the one I had used for 'Lady in Grey'.

Lady in Grey

The reference is from the Watts Atelier Program. I kept in mind to break the painting down into and filling in the shadow and light areas before modelling the form with mid-tones and highlights. Taking color out of the equation helps to focus on the values! Though I did use a hint of terra rosa in the reflected lights to add some interest.

Cast Away

 

Painting is really drawing with paint. I had to train to hold the pencil the way I should a paint brush and use the whole arm instead of using just the wrist. Sketching is tedious and intense. I have been painting more and drawing less; I should retrace a bit and sketch more often. Hmm. 

Sweet Musings

Mindless eating of mom's great creations, random ramblings with dad, sharing unspoken secrets with siblings, watching dreary cricket finals with cousins and a whole lot of nonstop merriment. Reliving the good old childhood days and recounting priceless memories; there isn't quite much to match the comforting familiarity of family. All I am right now is dreading the return to the other side of the country and weeping to be whizzed back to the present!

Humble beginnings

This is throwback from a while ago; recalling how it all begins - with free-flowing guidelines, values to indicate light & shadow and a few dark notes to define the features. There's something about unfinished work that I find very appealing; and I love this cast for the endearing emotion it carries. I read this somewhere, and I think it true - Its not so much just the eyes but also the lips that hold the key to the expression.

I came across this sketch recently and I thought it would be apt for a post to commemorate the humble beginnings of this blog. I am pleased to note the 3000+ views!! Heartfelt gratitude to all the dutiful followers and to the new few who may have stumbled upon it by pure chance!

Inside Out

Another sketch in progress. Instead of working outwards in, the idea was to work from the inside out; focusing more on the details rather than the composition, and so spending more time on and exercising a greater value range.

Its all Relative

One of my first attempts at drawing the human face and one of those 'still in progress' works. I don't have the poster that was my reference anymore and so this will remain incomplete for now. I'd like to think that I managed to capture the essence of this person - I wonder if that is enough to make him recognizable?

Cast Drawing

Quiet, please

Value Study

I had used my Rosemary Brushes for the first time and was amazed at how they made the paint glide over the panel. And now, without the battle of the brushes, painting reached a whole new level !

"Sell your grandmother if necessary, but buy the most expensive brushes you can find" 
- Richard Schmid, Alla Prima: Everything I know about painting -