Pinking It Up

Starting to apply the warmer flesh tones using Alizarin, Cad Red, Italian Pink and Zinc White. It's still far too pale and evenly toned, although the Zinc White is really coming into its own. Will let this get a bit tackier and then really amp up the warm tones and build in some blues.

I need to start thinking about how the face integrates into the ground and the rest of the figure. Maybe some loose brush-strokes and a series of glazes.

I'd really like to bleed some colour across the work - Maybe that Alizarin across the face; I'll see what happens when the intensity builds.

Going Green

Starting the Houding process with the green tones in the cooler areas of the face. I've used Sap Green (AS) but it might be a bit warm - I think I'll need to amp up the blues later.

The Dead Layer

The Piambura (dead layer) is done. I've spent a few days on this as the tonal qualities need to be fairly accurate. I continued using the Payne's Grey and started with Cremnitz (lead) White but really didn't like it. The Cremnitz had an eggy quality and wouldn't lie cleanly on the earlier layers, especially when mixed with the medium (I use Archival Odourless Classic). I introduced some Titanium White to give it body but blended them as the colours of the two whites are quite different. I think I'll try the Zinc White next time.

In terms of the effect I think it's a technique that has potential for portraits but isn't offering the expressive looseness I'm looking for at the moment. Once this work is done I have another underpainting I'm thinking about playing with to create expressive layers.

Next is the houding layer (applying warm and cool colours to model the dimensionality of the face).

Experimental Practice

I'm doing something I haven't done before - experimenting with my craft, rather than producing work for exhibition and sale. I starting this new process by playing with some ideas about how I go about my tradecraft.

This work draws on the Flemish many layered process that includes the dark warm ground, verdaccio/grisaille, piambura (dead layer) and houding (red/green warm/cool shaping).

Instead of the burnt umber I have chosen Alizarin crimson for the ground. I prefer a brighter palette than the old school Dutch/Flemish.

For the grisaille I'm trying Payne's Grey : - It just feels more contemporary (so far).

Next to let it dry and add the piambura.....

Post Studies - Emerging, again.

After several years of study and actually finding paid employment I find myself in the strange position of feeling in some way justified to pick up my brush again. Some ideas have been percolating in my mind for those years and they are demanding expression (as they are wont to do!).

In some ways it is crunch time for me in my art career. I need to get my visual act together. I've had time to learn some of my craft and play with the ideas that motivate my practice; now I need to bring these elements together into a mature practice. I spent so much time reflecting about the nature of my practice, both conceptually and physically and I think I finally have a real sense of myself as a practitioner.

I just have to make the work!

Then there is that other voice - advice from an experienced gallerist and established artists, "just paint, and don't worry about the rush to be seen". So that is what I plan to do for the next - just paint, and draw and film....

Emerging from the books

To further my career (with an actual income) I have managed to complete a Masters of Teaching in the last 18 months. Phew! Very stimulating, and I must admit I do love the teaching, but doing it as an intensive has kept me from doing too much else. 

I did manage, however, to undertake and exhibit a series of about 50 ink wash sketches of the ladies of the Murder City Roller Derby. The exhibition was a part of SALA 2013 and was held at the Auditorium Gallery, City of West Torrens. 

The ink wash drawings are quite popular, I think because they are more affordable for everyday folk, and have a freshness I am really enjoying.

Painting Myself Back into Form

It's been a while! in  fact, I've avoided this little site because the anxiety about not having anything to write was troubling. But, I'm back (tentatively) working on the old mojo. 

I had a solo show at a long established professional gallery a few months back. It was exciting and a success from my point of view as I sold work and got great feedback. For my first time out in the professional scene in the current economic climate I was pretty chuffed. It also needs to be said that the gallery really didn't promote the work ... but that's the other story.

The other story ... Myself and the delightful James Ainslie where the last people to show at Kensington Gallery. Kensington Gallery, after 30-some years under the careful stewardship of the previous owners has now closed its doors. The new owner has gone into liquidation due to poor financial management.  It was under the care of the new owner for just over a year. 

I never got paid for the works I sold and neither did James. And I probably never will. That's been the de-motivator. I wouldn't say I'm a particularly fragile artist, but the experience really knocked me for six. I haven't been able to face a brush or paint or draw. You put in all that work and a large piece of yourself and it is simply taken away. Lots of self talk was required to find a firm upside that didn't slip away in the night.

I'm something of a cricket nut, so I've tried to pick myself up and take a lesson from that great sport. I finally got to grips with my slump in form and decided that I really needed to 'bat myself back'. So, yesterday I picked up a brush and set up my easel and canvas and just began to paint with Midlake blaring in the background. I didn't want to think about about it too much, I just wanted to 'do'. 

I managed about an hour. And it was hard. There were little niggles telling me to go and do something else. My eye kept trying to see what was past the edge of my canvas. It was a shock, really, as I've always been able to get into touch easily. But, it's like meditation, if you don't practice and build your skills you loose that capacity to concentrate and be in the moment.  

Today I've done another hour before breakfast and had the time to reflect. So I'm putting a few words together to share this experience and I'll get back to this painting in a few minutes. I'll share when I finish :-)