Why did I decide to paint Buff & me in our usual spot?
Here's the story...
My friend Cheri and I have been doing a Weekly-ish Challenge for 5 years. We started early on in the Pandemic. The rules are very strict... HA! are more like a gentle guide. We take turns choosing a word, phrase, or topic. We each use that as inspiration to do a painting then "meet" back for a good long phone call to chat and reveal our works via text photos.
After our hundredth challenge we changed the rules for the hundredth time just a bit.
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| This little box of cards entered the game. |
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The first time, we drew these cards, and I did this... |
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| This time we drew these three... followed the directions for the last card and turned over the first one to the opposite side.  |
Was there any question as to what I would paint?
So, I was to do a girl and cat with those colors in "my style."
The question was whether I even knew what my style was any more.
First I did a mixed media piece. It was fun, a style I've been playing in.
I could be done.
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 styles that these photos are taken over the years. |
Painting a portrait doesn't come easily or naturally to me. I guess I'm more mathematical minded than artistic minded. Once I get it "finished." I do some tricks to make me revise and edit. One is to look at the painting in the mirror. It's amazing how the mistakes jump out. Another is to take a photo and look at the painting on the phone or computer screen. More mistakes make themselves known. Finally, I resort to geometry.
That's when I see that... oh, my nose is way bigger than I thought... oh, my mouth is way thinner than I thought... oh, my hair needs to be growing out of my head not just glued on around the forehead... oh, my neck is way wider... let's just leave that... artistic license/artist's vanity...
And... sometimes if I'm not available...
Original Oil Painting on 7"x 9" Canvas Board
NFS
What a cool process you have, and that last one seems to have nailed it - or it does seem that way to me. And Buff is such a willing and attractive meowdel.
ReplyDeleteIt is a process... that's true. For the most part I do avoid painting faces. There's always a point where the fun ends and the stress of getting it right begins.
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