Project 1 part 2: Vanitas

I finished painting the face on the weekend but somehow I don't get that sense of completion.  There are things I don't feel settled about, like the confused area of brushes and saxophone, and the dark voids.  I'm not sure if I will fiddle with it anymore or maybe just move on.

Project 3 : Painting of my mum

The starting point was a mid tone green.  I had the thought that this would work well under the skin tones.  The painting was drawn using a grid and a reference print of a photo.

I put down a tonal wash, very traditional, but to be honest this was just to get the image a bit more fixed as the pencil was pale and had a tendency to rub off.

After painting in a bit of the ground I started on the woolly cardigan.  I did end up painting over this though after I had completed the background as I wasn't happy with it.  I painted it darker than the heather coloured cardigan in the picture as I think of my mum as much warmer colours than this.

I enjoyed painting in the eggcups but the woolly texture was a bit of a bugger.  First the blanket and then, after tackling the cardigan for the second time, at least the woolly scarf flowed a lot easier.

The hands in the reference pic were a bit nondescript as I had to zoom in to get the pic in the first place so not the clearest reference but did them before tackling the face.

Today on the home straight I painted face and hair.........and the final painting!.  I have been painting like mad to get it finished in time for assessment.  I realised this wasn't necessary but the thought of starting back at college and still being faced with this was not a thought I relished so it was going to be finished today no matter what!  If it was at home I know I would fiddle with it more, but that's it!.......on with the new!

Have I learned anything?,....yes:  If I paint a portrait, make sure they are not attired in a sheep's worth of woolly texture.

Project 3 : Mum (the queen) painting

Can't seem to photograph the colours quite right.  I'm sure it wasn't quite this green.  My biggest one yet.  Measures approx 4' x 5'5".  Measured it today to see if it would fit in the car.