From a photo taken a year or so ago of one of my best friends and staunchest supporters. This is attempt number two at this photo...much more realistic than the first, but still impressionistic. The paints I used in this one helped, I think. They are Activa InterActive Acrylics. I am not total ly sold on them, but, they ARE formulated to stay workable longer (like oils) with the right technique. The longer workability did, I feel, contribute to the more realistic end product as I could fuss with it more...but I found the paint different enough to be annoying at times too.
For instance, I find the paint to be a bit "plastic-y" right out of the tube, and I am partial to really smooth paint (not thick or heavy-bodied stuff). Using a palette that has a special paper over a sponge helped a bit, as does mixing the paint right out of the tube with water or retarder before using it so it's not so thick and unworkable. After doing that, the only real issue I have is that when you pray the painting down to keep it wet and workable...sometimes a big droplet of water falls on a spot...making the paint so delicate and "workable" that a brushstroke takes ALL the paint off that spot, leaving a totally bare circle of white canvas. A bit of a bummer to correct for, personally...
Attempt number one is VERY impressionistic, but I like it's quick and dirty style anyway. These are both really small. No more than 5" tall and 6 or 7" wide...
2'x4' This is the last one I have started...now there are no more in progress...though I have every intention of doing more eventually.
30"x 40" This is the first one I started...and the last to be finished, lol!
From a photo taken a year or so ago of one of my best friends and staunchest supporters. This is attempt number two at this photo...much more realistic than the first, but still impressionistic. The paints I used in this one helped, I think. They are Activa InterActive Acrylics. I am not total ly sold on them, but, they ARE formulated to stay workable longer (like oils) with the right technique. The longer workability did, I feel, contribute to the more realistic end product as I could fuss with it more...but I found the paint different enough to be annoying at times too.
Attempt number one is VERY impressionistic, but I like it's quick and dirty style anyway. These are both really small. No more than 5" tall and 6 or 7" wide...
My little nieceling! Isn't she so cute?! I did this portrait from the picture below. It is the first portrait of anyone I know that I have attempted (other than myself). I have always been afraid to paint anyone I know...what if they think I made them look ugly, or bad, or just unflattering.
Playing around with using texturizers for the rocks...loving it!
This tryptic is almost done...just need to paint in the power-tower and power lines. And the shadows they cast, of course...I think my favorite part!
I got such good feedback on the CryingGirl close-up on the eye that I tried another impressionistic close-up here. Still a part of the crying series, it is subtler...can you see the faint streak of blue tears coming down the cheek? Much lighter, emothionally, and more sensual with the focus on the lips and curve of the jaw. The colors too are warmer and softer...the tones imply a turn towards better things.
This is a very dramatic piece, also a salt pond, but I am not certian if this is a part of the Cargill salts in San Jose, or even elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. It will be stunning, though. Iit deserves to be hung in a space large enough to accomodate viewing from a moderate distance...high up on someone's San Francisco loft wall perhaps?
An update on this one...shown with the photo on it...