After Sargent: Eugenia Errazuriz

This is another Sargent copy. Here is the version I did in 2007.

The great thing about doing these portraits in watercolor is that I can't really fix things that go awry. That gives me a fair amount of motivation to be diligent and have the shape I need to place in mind before putting brush to paper. At this point, my skill is inconsistent. But I hope as I continue, I will be right more often then not.

This is also a really fun way to play around with watercolor try out ideas and learn the medium.

After Sargent Flora Priestly

Flora Priestly, after Sargent.

I do know that I did a very bad version of this back in 2007 - I have it in the sketchbook. But, apparently I never posted it. Trust me, this one isn't great, but it's better.

These portraits provide a good challenge:

• getting the shapes right the first time, no drawing
• practice fixing the shapes when they are wrong the first time
• practice controlling hard and soft edges

After Sargent Gordon Greenough

I'm working my way, for a second time, through Sargent's portrait drawings.

Here's the version I did early back in 2007.

After Sargent in Watercolor

I think I may have started a new project for myself. Last night I flipped through a book of Sargent's portrait drawings. It's the book that I began with when I began blogging over six years ago.

This time I plan to paint my way through with watercolors - no drawing, just heading directly in with paint. Above is after Sargent's Paul Helleu. I don't think I drew him last time, as I can't find the post.

I Know That Face

The Artist's Eldest Son
colored pencil on paper
13in x 9.5in
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

Jumped into another portrait. I'm really enjoying doing these.

The Artist's Son

The Artist's Son
13in x 9.5 in
colored pencil on paper
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

I jumped into another portrait. Lots of fun to do these!

The Artist's Son, colored pencil drawing

The Artist's Son
9 in x 12in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

A few weeks ago I took my sons to Blue Jay Point - a gorgeous local park with a lake, hiking trails, nature center, etc. We just walked around but it was so beautiful we all felt relaxed and refreshed just soaking it in.

This is one of my sons in conversation that day.

Work In Progress and the plague

Work in Progress
9in x 12in

Just started this fun one - my son in conversation by a local lake.

In other news, the plague has descended on our home - hope to make some progress with this today but might end up taking a nap!

Summer Workloads

Self-Portrait - Summer 2011
11in x 9 in
colored pencil on Stonehenge paper

Seems hard to believe that it has been a month since I last posted! I have been working, but at a much slower pace. My workload shifts a bit in the summer - the bulk of my time is spent enjoying my sons full-time, keeping them busy, and of course, cooling off in the pool.

I have been sneaking in 20-30 minute sessions on my self-portrait. In the evenings, after the charges are safely tucked in bed, the obligatory hour of exercise has been done and providing there is enough energy to focus, I have been sitting down and polishing off the portrait.

The workload is shifting again in another week, school starts back up. I have a busy fall planned art-wise. I'm participating in a group show in September-October, have a profile coming up in a magazine, and some plans for new pieces - I'm looking forward to diving back in, just need to finish my "studio move" (relocated to a different area of the house and now my supplies are dwelling on two different levels - not exactly efficient!)

Keeping Focus on New Skills

Work in Progress

Today I am beginning the first portrait since my workshop. I'm working hard to remember the things that I learned. Above you can see the progress I've made so far.

It shouldn't be so hard to place elements of the face, working so closely with a reference, but I find myself going in my usual circles - measuring and remeasuring.

But, I keep at it, viewing it as a game.

Steps in the Path of Learning

Above you see where I ended up with the portrait for the workshop. I am pleased with the workshop and all that I learned. This portrait is close to a likeness of the reference, but only close, I didn't nail it. I do know where it falls short of a likeness - and although that isn't entirely satisfactory, it is overall, encouraging. During this week I feel like my eye got a little better at seeing angles, lines, and values. This week I completed an 11x14 colored pencil portrait - a feat I have not before accomplished (it seems larger than life size in the case of this young girl).

So, I feel like I have taken a few more steps down the road I want to travel. I think my next steps will be more informed - and I'll just have to do another portrait quickly to prove it!

In the next portrait, I'm hoping to remember to:

• constantly compare what I'm drawing with all parts of the reference
• find one spot that is right on and hang the rest of the drawing on that
• work at arm's length
• step back from the drawing every 30? minutes and view it at a greater distance
• work at building up the values - and being patient for things to develop
• compare the drawing with the reference on the computer, side by side - every few hours, checking values, shapes, and angles

So hold me to it gang - by next week you should hear that I've chosen a reference and begun a new portrait!

Lessons Learned at a Portrait Workshop

Work in Progress
from workshop with Susan Carlin

This past weekend I took a portrait workshop online from Susan Carlin.  She demonstrated painting a portrait in oils and offered multiple critiques on our work. I thought I'd highlight some of the things I learned.

In the morning I worked happily away and then sent in my work for critique... (cue the music)

It was very clear that my drawing was off, way off. Susan suggested I just trace the photo and work on that for the rest of the time. I started tracing but realized what I really wanted out of this class was an understanding of how to pull a drawing back together. When a drawing gets askew, how do you get it straightened out? This is important to me because even if I start with a grid (which I didn't this time), I get things wrong.

In the afternoon, after choosing my "rightest" part, I started making adjustments. The drawing definitely got back on track. Here's what I did differently:

Work at arm's length.

I didn't do this for the first half and I think my posture really affected my ability to get the drawing correct. For the afternoon, I did work at arm's length and the resulting change in the correctness of my drawing was amazing. It's still not perfect, but it is much closer.

Compare, compare, compare.

Compare values, compare measurements, compare angles, compare it all. Pick one "rightest part" and hang the rest of the drawing on that. Get one part right (completely right, without-a-doubt right), and then compare everything in relation to that.

Expect it to be hard.
There were points where I felt very tired. There was one point when I wanted to quit. But just at that point a discussion rose up about how portraiture requires good drawing skills. You can't fudge the human form like you can fudge a pair of shoes. This is even more true when trying to capture a likeness....if your eyes were in a slightly different position, you wouldn't like yourself, so everything needs to be in the right place. It made me realize that everyone finds it hard, because it is hard. I'm sure it gets easier with time, but in the way that brain surgery gets easier with time - it is still a difficult occupation that requires your utmost attention.

Stand back from your work, often.
No one likes to do this - we feel in the zone, we fear stopping progress will break the spell, we're lazy, whatever the reason - but stepping back does help. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe taking your eyes off the work for a moment helps break the bond you have your most recent strokes and then you can view them more objectively? Even if I don't know why, I know it works.

All in all, it was a great day. I had fun, met some new people, and learned a ton. And yes, I do think I learned that one thing I most wanted to learn - how to pull a drawing back from the brink!

At the top of the post is where the drawing finished up on the day. I have continued working on it this week - I'll post at least one more update to let you know where it ends up.

A month or so ago I made some updates to the look of the blog...be sure to take a peek. I plan to update the featured works (in the header and sidebar) with some regularity. :-)

Here's Looking at You

The Artist's Son
colored pencil on Stonehenge paper
7 in x 5 in
copyright Rose Welty

Finished this one up last night.

A Little More Looking At You

Made some more progress yesterday. Plenty more to do.

Something to Warm You on A Cold Afternoon

Portrait of the Artist's Son
approx 7 in x 7in
colored pencil on Mi-Teintes paper
copyright Rose Welty

It's snowing here in North Carolina today. My sons have been out playing in the woods - they are now wrapped up in blankets and awaiting hot cocoa.

I enjoyed my adventure with this bold and brassy red-earth support. Now what should be my next adventure? Sure to be fun, whatever it is. Hope you'll join me!

For those that haven't heard, I've added some of my most popular images to the card and print shop - just click on the little slideshow in the sidebar and have a browse of the shop. We both can have a merrier Christmas that way. :D

Portrait Work in Progress

I decided to play around with some different colored paper - not a neutral, but something bold and brassy. This is on Red Earth Mi-Teintes paper. There is some more work to do on this, but I thought I'd show you what I've been doing the last few days.

Work on such a "warm" support is a challenge, but also quite a bit of fun. My usual flesh tones came out very chalky. However, the eraser is a great tool on a support like this - I was smudging the eraser around with abandon for a while and it had a lovely softening, blending effect. I definitely like that - it felt a bit like painting, pushing and pulling wet paint around.

Start to A Portrait

 

For tonight’s painting session I decided to make a start on the portrait for my study group.

I used some of my new brushes that arrived today. I absolutely love my new “mural” brushes….the two inch flat is my favorite, just a wonderful way to lay down a huge swab of color.

Before I head off into the weekend…

Valerie, one of my Fine Art Friends has a new Etsy store. Valerie is clever with a colored pencil. She is also very good with a sewing machine. She has some unique products for sale – if I had a daughter she would get one of these for sure.

A Portrait I’ve Been Working On

This is one of the options for our portrait group this month. There are some tweaks ahead, but I’m getting close.

Working in a Group

Here's a peek at my on-going self-portrait. I'm doing it with my portrait group. I have a long ways to go, but it does highlight some of the advantages of working with a group:

• I get good advice about what to fix and how.
• I have other eyes that can see what's wrong when I can't.
• I feel an obligation to finish this.
• I feel an obligation to try hard with this...I don't want to just "cross the finish line." I really want to incorporate what I am learning from others.

This isn't the only group I'm involved with...it really does help take away the sting of working on your own. I really think finding a community of artists is essential to learning. You may want one community or several, they can be found anywhere...online forums, online challenges, private blogs, commenting on posts, email exchanges, etc...Try it, you might just like it.

Studio Move and Portrait Update

** Updated with larger pictures of the studio. **
This post contains a picture of my relocated studio and an update on the portrait I've been doing this week.

Above you see where I've gotten to with the portrait of Jeanette that I've been doing. It's better, although I think it could still use some work, but it's close.

Below you see some photos of my studio relocated to another room. It was in the corner of the bedroom, it is now in the front room of the house by the bay windows. It certainly is more spacious! The price of that space is a measure of privacy, but I am still very happy with the move. (It's no small thing to move those desks and shelves - I found some books that I had forgotten about - so it suddenly seems as those I have new stuff! :D