The White Bow

The White Bow
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

This little darling was my demo for this afternoon's painting class!  The granddaughter of one of my friends (and a student - though she was not in class today), her photo was on my desktop.   I used her to demonstrate how to lay in the values in black and white while using a color photo.  The emphasis is on using short, impressionistic strokes to define all the planes of the face, all the time getting those values correct.  As I work loosely, a likeness naturally develops. Once I feel her likeness captured - I step away from the brushes!  I want her to be fresh and lively, with plenty of those lush, impressionistic strokes visible. The more I paint these portraits - the more I love doing them! Painting number 1056 in 1056 days :)

Finding the Music

Finding the Music
Oil on panel, 12x9

So the 30 day painting challenge is over, and I can now take a break.  But the routine of the last 30 days is still with me.  I waited until late in the day to start this one, but I still had to paint it.  I have only started to do figure painting - and I really want to explore every avenue in this new genre.  It is also very appealing to capture with paint some of our daily family memories.  You know, the small stuff.  It could be like a painting journal of our lives together.  This is my oldest daughter - and I had to sneak up behind her to take the photo reference for this painting! This makes 31 paintings in a row :)