C'est Fini

The painting... finished. The hair didn't come out great, nor Ok. But I've decided that I'm finished. I can continue, and continue and continue, but that may mean that I'll just mess it up. I think I got the face good enough for me after so many days, months, and years of not painting. Actually, I do believe that this may be my best self-portrait in all the years that I've done them. That makes me happy. Oh by the way the warmth of the painting compared to the other versions is due to the yellow light indoors. It's been to foggy in Ireland lately to paint outside. Fingers crossed for next time.

Now on to the next one.

Which after some deliberation from friends, neighbors and random strangers stopped on the street are going to be "studies" of other more famous and known painters and paintings. I am quite excited about this.

Don't worry boys and girls, there is loads more to come!

Today's studio space

Gorgeous sunlight and warmth today. So painting outside!

Paint, paint, and more paint

So the right is half way through the painting process yesterday as I started trying to get the portrait better. I also wanted to show it to you as well as showing where I ended yesterday so that you can't say that I just started another painting, instead of working over the first one. It's interesting to see them both side to side.

I think it definitely looks like an improvement, as I have "remembered" how to manipulate the paint a bit more, though still not with the confidence I remember I once had. I did stop the other day though because though I painted my face a bit better, I wanted to "style" my hair for the "final" painting so that I looked all pretty and dolled up. No one says that I'm not vain, so I may as well look my best. Though lets be honest I do have a worried look on my face as I paint, more from concentration that anything else. I'm happy where I finished and can't wait to take the time tomorrow to place the last couple of details and then maybe sketch out the next painting. Only 9 more to go!

Traveling studio space

Here is the "studio space" I'm working with. The other day I was set up outside. Today due to the typical Irish weather I've been brought indoors. A couple of corrections lines as promised and now off to paint.

First painting 2011....

So I haven't painted in years as you can tell. And on top of that I decided to do a portrait... self-portrait. It's BAD... REAL BAD. But I thought that maybe you can see the progress over time. My nose is off, the eyes not only off but cartoony, among other things. I'm hoping that in the next couple of days to "fix" it, that way I can "remember" my painting technique.

I'm using acrylics on paper and I love the texture the paper gives. I know that by the time I am done all that texture will be gone, but that's the nature of plastic, which is as we know all that acrylics is. I almost wish I had brought oils with me to be able to work the paint better, but acrylics are more forgiving (not going muddy so fast and keeping their pigment longer). Also I can wait a day and practically start over.

Tonight I will draw the basic portrait lines of eyes/nose/mouth, and start painting over this one. I feel like you can see that I have an IDEA of what I need to do with this one, but obviously technique is not yet there. That and I may need better and smaller brushes for some of the tiny details.

I actually can't wait to see how this progresses. And then maybe do some more. The acrylic paper pad I brought with me has 10 sheets. I have 2 weeks left. Here's to hoping that the pad is complete by the time I get back. Finger's crossed.