Sunday, September 30, 2012

Changing




I'm still working on portraits and studies for portraits and may do so for some time to come.  Its a bit of a test/refresher for my portraiture skills and a change of subject from the usual fish and water.  Not to say that they won't be making an appearance too.

I was also testing painting straight to canvas instead of with charcoal or pencil first.  I'm not completely pleased with the outcome and feel I really need that structured value map to guide me, otherwise I spend too much time making adjustments to features to compensate for too loose a guide to start with.

Life is crazy hectic, I've had some eye problems that are ongoing and my ability to post regularly has suffered. It makes me think more about quality than quantity and I know I sometimes post simply for the sake of words and images, rather than sharing good information and art.


I am going to try for a single post each week and see how that works out for me.  It may move to more but for the next couple of months I will post once, likely at the weekend.  I have been blogging steadily  for seven years, over 1800 posts, endless comments, hundreds of paintings - its a lot of information that I never knew was even in my head and to be honest, I'm running a little close to empty right now and need some time to regroup thoughts and ideas that are going forward into the future for projects.

This study has been a bear to get a photograph.  The light is horrible today and the painting too wet to move to better lighting.  Its not complete  and I'll work on it a little more before calling it quits.  Its in oils on 12 x 12" canvas panel. I quite enjoy portraits on this size support.  not too small to make features difficult to paint and not to large to become a marathon painting session.  Most portraits this size can be done over a period of a couple of days allowing about 3 hours painting time per day.

8 comments:

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

I hope your eyes are better soon, it must be very frustrating for you.

I can understand how after seven years of blogging that you need to refill your creative well. It's a lot of work and a lot of hours that you have put in. I will look forward to hearing about your new projects when you have time, until then have a wonderfully creative week.

Unknown said...

That sounds like a good blogging plan. Hope your eye continues to improve.

I like this man's surprised expression :)

renate said...

Hi Jeanette:) I like your portrait quite nicely. Also your other portraits are very nice. In this portrait, I think especially the various color nuances are very nice. I now know how difficult a portrait can be. I just got my first portrait completed. I place him tonight or tomorrow on my blog. I had to do, of course, a dark coloured (Negroid) person. Find examples of it on You Tube. Not so. So I had to figure out everything myself. It can always be better, but for a first time: mwah:)

renate said...

By the way: if you have advice for me it is more then welcome! My painting is in watercolor. Thank you.

Judy-in-nl said...

I don't usually comment but I always look forward to reading your blog and looking at your lovely drawings and paintings. I would like to wish you well with your eye problems and hope they resolve soon. Stay well and 'recharge'.

Unknown said...

It's a wonderful portrait. I hope you can find some answers to the trouble with your eyes. I have very bad eyesight myself, and it's so frustrating when you're trying to see your subject clearly and draw or paint. It's okay sometimes to feel like you have no new ideas processing in your mind... they are there, just moving in new directions that you haven't discovered yet. :) I look forward to seeing more of your portraits and reading your thoughts.

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JANE MINTER said...

you've got a gift to paint directly on the canvas like this jeanette ..brilliant portrait ..hope you eyes are improving ..sounds like a good idea/solution to post once a week