20 minute acrylic sketches

These paintings were done in one session where we did 3 20 minute sketches. Good discipline but it left me wishing I had more time to work into them.

I had prepared some cardboard with the dragged backgrounds first. I quite like working onto a coloured ground just to lose all that virgin space first.

They are quite small, just 20cm the largest dimension.

Pastel Portraits

This drawing was done earlier this year at the class. The model was wearing the red and white striped robe so we asked for her to keep it on as a challenge.

I used Conte pastels on Murano paper.

This model always keeps her hair in a turban or wrap so it is always a big part of the drawing. 

Here I just used a black conte on a toned Murano paper.

Pastel Portraits

I haven't posted a blog for a while but work has been soooo busy. 


Holidays now though, so I should get some art finished and blog some work as it progresses.

I have some carvings on the go at the moment so I shall try to get going on them as soon as possible.


For now, here are a couple of new pastel drawings.

Monica is a lot more cheerful than I have made her look here.

 

 It is difficult to get Peter's eyes correct as he has quite deep set eyes and you can't really see his pupils.

This is a better one of Peter, I have framed it hence my reflection in the glass, sorry! I have put this one into an art exhibition that is part of the celebrations of St. Andrews URC, Monkseaton 80 years celebrations. I think I have caught his character better here. He always cheers us up after a class by singing to us in a lovely tenor voice!

Not such a good photo of this drawing, it's still unfinished on the hands- I must work quicker next time.

Not my best pastel drawing, proportions a bit wrong here and there, something to work into at a later date maybe.

Life class, Jan 2012

Using soft pastels on coloured paper I tried to represent the character of the sitter.

Portraits in acrylics

I thought I would try something different using a dragged background to start with. these portraits are not perfect, far from it, but they were done from direct observation taking between 20 and 30 minutes each so they are just sketches really.

A washstand for Veronica

I have finished this piece that I have been working on for a while.  It is a modified victorian cupboard. I have carved each side before putting it back together with a fabric at the back.

The front I have left quite plain , on the right side I have carved a woman's chemise in low relief.

The top shows a water jug pouring water with a mirror and towels on the base.
The backing fabric is a printed face/hands on cotton stretched across the back.

The idea came about when I broke an old cupboard apart to use the wood to carve some panels, because it was an old washstand I started to carve a jug pouring water. I then went on to carve a towel and the chemise. The whole piece came together as a washstand for Veronica who is supposed to have washed Jesus' face at the time of the crucifixion.