Sunday, July 20, 2008

8AM

8AM
Watercolour pencils, 9 x 12 140lb watercolour paper
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Another sunny morning and another self portrait. And no, I still haven't found my set of watercolours. I used the watercolour pencils once again and added a few graphitint pencils too.

Every portrait that I do of myself seems to look entirely different but I enjoy the process, even if I am not always entirely pleased with the end result. I'm in the mood to experiment with colours in portraits and see what I can get away with but that will still be representational.

Its quite amazing how viewer's eyes 'read' unorthodox colours and accept them as representing the form they expect to see. Is it shape that is recognizable and the colours are ignored or is it the values not the colours that create the form?

7 comments:

Rose Welty said...

Jeanette, are we going to be treated to a series? They are lovely!

vivien said...

This is great! a lovely sensitive portrait.

Yes, I think the tonal values are what makes the form recognisable and it's possible to play with a variety of colours - if the tone is true the image still reads :>)

Jo Castillo said...

Great portraits, fun, different...

Good points to ponder, as well. I do think it is value, too.

Later...

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Rose. I'm just having some fun with colour on these, so there may be a couple more yet. :)

Vivien, I'm still trying to come up with the 'real' me in a portrait. Each one is entirely different it seems. But yes, the values make the form, its true. I guess that's why we can get away with wild colour choices as long as the shapes are recognizable.

Hi Jo, I'm enjoying the results that different colours provide. It makes me want to experiment more and see just how far I can push it without being recognizable as a human! :)

"JeanneG" said...

I like the latest one a lot. I still don't see the different colors in faces. Interesting watching you experiment.

Making A Mark said...

I love this new Jeanette we're seeing - in more ways than one! ;)

Jeanette Jobson said...

Jeanne, I think seeing different colours in skin tones just sort of happens. Or you experiment with cool and warm colours, using them in shadows just to see what happens and then you find it works.

Play around with it and see what you come up with. Instead of a darker shade of pink or brown in skin tone use blue or purple or green. Its great fun!

Thanks Katherine. I like to experiment with colour and get out of the grey now and then. :)