Having decided to pick out two lessons to “catch up” on missed art lessons, the second one I picked was another Life Book lesson. I wanted to tackle this one as the layering and creation of texture would present me with challenge and, therefore, learning opportunities but the inclusion of figures meant it was a subject (unlike florals) that automatically appealed to me.
The lesson was by Gillian Lee Smith and I really enjoyed her approach to building up layers and balancing out dark and light elements throughout that process. Once I got the background to a level of grunginess I was happy with – and I used shades of brown for a sort of vintage, sepia feel – it was time to work on the figures. I did not have the materials required for the method Smith demonstrated so I had to improvise. I also decided not to incorporate more than one figure and just focus on one face. I think it was the whole sepia tone thing as it made me think of a carte de visite photographic portrait. I really enjoyed the process of pulling the figure out from the background through use of light and shadow, white paint and black ink. I am not overly keen on the outcome – she looks a bit spectral to me, like something you might find hanging on the wall of a haunted house – but I really did like the process and felt I learned quite a bit from it. Something to return to in future and try again.
A Pict in PA 
I like this one. Especially the shadows on the neck area. I like the abstraction of them and also less-defined nature of them. Works well with this color scheme, which I like, too.
Thanks. At first I thought it was ghastly but I didn’t tidy it away and each time I walked past it it grew on me a little more. I still think the white is too stark so if I were to do this again then I’d use buff instead but I do like that grungy feel to it and the vintage quality. It’s definitely an approach I will try again.
I really LOVE this one. When you said that it looked like someone hanging on a haunted house, I already knew I will definitely love her. Your color choices were perfect and she sure is one dame definitely to be captured in painting and hung on a lovely wall of a great home albeit a hunted home.
Thanks. I’ve come around to actually liking the spooky quality this piece has.
This is pretty good. It is a bit spooky but I like it, Laura, great job!
I thought it was way too spectral at first but now I quite like the spookiness of it. Thanks.
I really like this – I don’t think it looks particularly spooky though. [Maybe I require skeletons and spiders to go that way 🙂 ] She looks strong to me. I love the colour choices you made. I must try that one day.
Thank you. I do really like the grungy quality I achieved. I will definitely try that again and I think it worked well with the earthy colours. For once it was a good thing to make mud.
This one is a definite success! Beautiful!
Thank you very much!