Week 6 – I gave up on having any of the three images in a ‘finished’ state this week. As for many others (Don included apparently), this week did not turn out to be what I expected.
Week 7
My target for the last two week’s Masterpiece.
I was looking for something involving both male and female figures at the same time and yet, not too overly ambitious.
I plan on making changes to the dancers and the background as well.
That should be doable in two weeks.
(Reference image available from Wiki Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tango-Show-Buenos-Aires-01.jpg
)
First sketches.
Experimenting with compositions and color schems (background color mostly). I think the pose calls for a more horizontal frame.
The lamp post turned out to be too distracting. I will keep the background dark and vague.
Edit: Great… looking for references and ideas, I came across this guy.
fabianperez.com/gallery16.html
Now I will have to think about not feeling like I am copying him on top of making my own painting…
[tango 1-3]
Another 1h30 into it.
By popular demand, I reverted it to the vertical format. So much for sticking to my inspiration … on the other hand, that must be what it feels like to show sketches to an art director and get feedback to go into a different direction.
At least this decision was not too painful
Anyway… still working out deviations from the model (like that weird foot of hers above his leg… it looked better without it).
Still a lot of work to do though.
Edit: I tried to play a little with some custom watercolor brushes to create a smoky atmosphere for the background. It is getting closer to what I had in mind.
[tango 2-5-6]
A little more than three more hours into this one. Mostly to add more definition to the faces, hands and arms.
For some reason, it was incredibly difficult for me to get back into ‘the zone’. I kept being distracted, almost demotivated. And then, after about an hour and half forcing myself back into it, it happened… I was sailing smoothly again.. and I barely saw the next two hours pass.
Closing her eyes was deliberate. Partly because it was too hard to give her credible eyes in that position and partly because it just begged to have her close her eyes at that point of the dance
I also took Don’s advice and moved them up a bit.
[tango-8]
I’m not sure what else I will add to tell a bit of story. Technically, it has been a good exercise so far, but I am finding this image a little dry in terms of details or storytelling. On the other hand, I don’t want to turn it into a movie poster or a ‘tango night’ flyer.
Another hour spent on the feet and texture of the dress.
I am reaching the point where I am tempted to leave things in a painterly, rough state instead of zooming in into the tiny details.
Actually… I am thinking about branching out another version of this painting into something even more rough and abstract. Now if I knew how to loosen up and distress this painting without destroying it
[tango-9]
