This week’s Life Book lesson was taken by Renata Loree. I loved that it was a lesson about layering with watercolour because watercolour and ink are my artistic comfort zones but layering with several layers is not. I, therefore, felt like this was a good opportunity for making some progress with that aspect of my art work.
The concept behind the lesson, as I understood it, was to depict a figure with an integrated mandala representing energy and light radiating outwards. I did not even attempt a mandala because, as I have proved, they are not really within my wheelhouse. I, therefore, drew concentric rings so that visually I could aim for a similar concept of radiating or spiralling outwards. It is not clear in the photo but there is silver paint in the centre of the circle and its very perimeter. I really enjoyed the layering process and it was all going well right up until the point where I added neutral colours for the skin and hair tones. That was when it all went a bit muddy and murky. I should have stuck with it all being in cool colours. The additional challenge of the lesson was to draw a face tilting upwards. I ended up with a face that just looked squished and weird. Fail. Bizarrely, I thought the hand was going to give me the most trouble but it ended up being my favourite part of the piece. Lessons learned aplenty.
A Pict in PA 
Beautiful hand! I think the face is good, too. The angle gives her a pensive quality…as though she’s looking off into the universe. I see her as very “connected” with a divine energy. I love the colorful background. Very creative!
You are very kind. I’m pleased with the hand because hands are often my nemesis. The face, however, went wrong. The angle of the jawline is at odds with the angle of the rest of the face. Something to practice in future.
I know what you mean about hands. Today I have a post on my blog about ears, and I have one coming up about hands. I don’t remember what day it’s scheduled, but you’ll get to see some of my attempts from when I first started learning to draw.
I look forward to seeing those.
I think her face looks great! I love your “mandala”. I think it gives the painting movement.
Thank you very much, Deanna.
I don’t know what you’re talking about, “fail”. I think this portrait is very successful, the head looks great to me, uptilted and searching. I only wish she were smiling, she looks sad at what she is seeing, but that’s for another story, right? And the hand is perfect. Success, I think.
Thank you. I think the mouth looks that way simply because the tilt of the head led me to place the features with a downward curve. Perhaps next time I attempt a tilted head I should use a reference photo to help me place the features.
So interesting Laura, I love your choice of perspective.
Thank you, Sharon. I will need to keep practicing that angle to get it right. I want to embark on a project drawing a series of 100 faces so I will make sure I draw some from unusual angles for the practice.
An exciting challenge ahead.
Indeed. I hope to start on it soon, maybe over the summer when I have more control over our schedule.
Is that your first upward looking face? I see the slight off in the jaw line, but it isn’t what pulls my attention as viewer. [Doing the work means you know every darn thing that deviates from perfection doesn’t it!] Hands are my “Gah!!!” Well done!!
Thank you! Yes, we become prejudiced against (maybe sometimes for) our own art work because we have known intimately every flaw and hiccup and hurdle in its creation.
When I saw the painting and if you were right beside me, I would have given you a big hug! She is fantastic! I am in awe!
Thank you for the cyber hug. 😀