Last week before starting the final full figure paintings.
The focus of this week is to continue with quick one hour studies to practice the first stages of painting – blocking the shape, tones and shadows. If feel this is something I need to practice more at this point, than the final stages of adding details and smoothing out a finished portrait.
Each study forces me to focus on shape and color, and leave details for later stages. When I start getting into details too early, it is easier to wipe them out with a few broad strokes and move on.
It is interesting at this point to look back and measure the difference in results in just a few weeks of practice. I am beginning to see shapes better – how colors,shades and shapes are related. The temptation is great to paint each area in isolation, whereas they are really part of a whole.
Another major change in how I see painting now is in how colors work together. How colors from the background find their way in hot or cool areas of the figure depending on the lighting conditions.
Many times I find myself applying the same principles of Perceptual Organization I learned in college, to suggest details with a few touches with the right alignment or contrast.
During this week’s research, I found very interesting tutorials up at GFXArtists and ImagineFX.
In particular, some tutorials by Ron Lemen about Skin Color (Part I and Part II) and about value.