We were gifted a bonus lesson by Tamara Laporte last week on the Life Book course. Happily, having had enough time to get through the scheduled lesson early in the week, I had time to work on the bonus lesson too.
The lesson was titled ‘Tree of Life’. It was another practice in painting on top of collage elements and depicted a girl swinging from a tree. I departed completely from the style of the exemplar but I used the techniques and the colour palette. All Winter I seem to have been drawn to the cooler colours, the blues, purples, greens and pinks. I probably need to challenge myself to use a warm colour scheme soon. Perhaps that will force Spring to arrive!
This was truly a mixed media effort as I used watercolour (for the face), acrylics, collage, aquamarkers and neocolors all in the one piece. This was a piece that definitely evolved over the days I spent on it and it most certainly went through a scruffy. This was mainly thanks to the background looking chaotic but somehow painting over it and pushing it back saved it from ugliness.
One creeping realisation I have had since starting the Life Book course is that my ability to draw faces has regressed, markedly so, probably as a consequence of having not attended a life drawing class since I left Britain in October 2013. This is something I will need to attend do in some way. I cannot have my skills rusting any further. Time to grease those artistic joints.
A Pict in PA 
This is great Laura, love the pink hair
Thank you.
She is certainly reflecting your season! I love that she swings despite the cold feeling the colour palette induces. I am liking your style!
Thank you very much. She certainly looks happier being outdoors in winter than I feel.
I love it! I still haven’t had time to do the last few lessons because of other projects I’m working on, but I’ll get to it sometime.
It was a bonus so you are entirely justified in putting it off for as long as you wish. I look forward to seeing your version when you do create it though. Thank you for your lovely comment.
This is beautiful, Laura! I love everything about it!
You are always so kind with your comments. Thank you.
She’s beautiful! I want to be able to create faces. Maybe an art class or two is in my future!
Thank you. I definitely need to focus on practicing faces. I can’t sign up for any more courses so I think YouTube might be a good place to look for tutorials. Mostly I just really miss life drawing class.
Lovely and cheerful and very feminine with the pinks and her clothing.
Thank you for your lovely comment. I’ve been drawn to those colours for most of the winter, starting with my twinchie advent calendar I think. I’m going to force myself into a different palette next time.
You draw so well Laura! I love her and your color palette is so yummy 😉
Thank you!