In which I attend an art class

[bunn]

Someone recommended a local painting class to me, so I thought I'd give it a go since it is much easier to ask questions and see demonstrations in person than try to figure stuff out from the internet.   The first one I attended was yesterday.  Most of the group had been working on a particular image for a while, but I got a swift introduction to some ideas about figure painting and then got started making an image from some anatomy textbooks he'd brought along.

This is what I made:



The middle figure was more or less from one of the anatomy texts, and the mermaid was slightly modified.  And I think I'm going to have to experiment with using a different lens for photographing paintings, because the original really is better than this, honestly!

things I learned : try making an armature for a figure drawing with lines that fade away into a triangle, and find where the weight of a figure lies.  Also, my burnt sienna/titanium white mix for flesh tends to come out too muddy, he suggested yellow ochre, vermilion / cadmium red and titanium white, with some phthalo green for shading.   I don't have any yellow ochre, so I've ordered some, but you can see a bit of the green in this, I think.

Also, he thinks I'm just trying to paint too small, and should try making some bigger images so that it's less vital to get every speck of paint in exactly the right spot.  I had just bought some cheap canvases from Lidl, so I can try it, though the problem with canvases is finding somewhere to put them, I already have a mountain of paintings on card that I can't quite bring myself to chuck out.   Perhaps I will just bite the bullet and overpaint them with something else.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I like that - I think the shading on the flesh is very effective.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I'm interested to see how the different mix for flesh tones will turn out, but I'm quite pleased with the postures! (I don't know what's going on off to the left there, what it is that has caught their attention!)

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I think it came out very well! Nice work! You make me want to find an art class somewhere.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

It was very cheerful and friendly (though not very diet-friendly:it is clearly a thing that EVERYONE brings biscuits :-D )

[timetiger.livejournal.com]

I think it's so cool you're taking a painting class.

The translucent dress came out very well.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that an educated eye will help with those bits where I'm staring at it thinking 'this is wrong' but unable to see why.

Also it's an incentive to practice something every week!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

You could give your unwanted paintings away in exchange for postage if it troubles you to destroy them. I think the painting looks good.

[chainmailmaiden]

That's an excellent idea!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I still owe you some dragons. I did try painting them a time or two, but it all wented a bit wrong. I am still hoping that practice will improve the hit-rate.

However, if you fancy any of the others, you are very welcome to them. I'm not sure many people would want them, really!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure many people would want them, really, but if you do see one you like, I'm entirely happy to send it to you for the cost of a stamp!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Ooh thank you, anything with trees or animals would be lovely.