Today’s sitter was Linda. I’m in a sketchy kinda mood, so I went with the sketchy photo of her (well, that and she looked concerned in the other two). I didn’t stay for the full session today. I’m apparently in something of a speed mode, and all I wanted to do was whip out a few gestural-type images, focusing on some basics. Some days, you just have to go back to the foundational elements. Today, I think that was a good thing.
First, the warmup sketch. I kept it loose and squiggly to begin with, but then filled in more solid details. All of these were done in ten or twelve minute segments.
For the rest, I’m in a primary kind of mood. I just love the effect the pure colors have, and when you’re not focused on getting just the right flesh tone, it can actually be quite liberating.
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This was a one-segment sketch, trying to capture broad gestural strokes.
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This last sketch took probably three or four segments. It’s rough and sloppy, but I’m happy with it. it feels like I’m finally loosening up a bit, which is a good thing.
-o.o-
A Work in Progress 
Very different this time! Very interesting use of colors. Nice to see your work again!
Uh oh, that could be seen as a very diplomatic response! š
The last one pops just a bit when you squint at it (which is generally a good thing). Though on my computer, with a second look it does seem like there’s a lot of yellow in there.
Still, after a couple month’s hiatus, I’m not displeased.
Ooh… channeling a bit of Van Gogh color scheme there?! Interesting to see the stages of how you develop the portrait.
Oh, yeah – I wasn’t even thinking about that, but you’re right. Van Gogh did work in primaries a lot. I think that’s one of the main components of the appeal (combined with the compositions, the rhythm and flow, etc.). I haven’t seen nearly enough of his work, at least not with my eyes Open.
Uh-oh, pre-empting the diplomatic charge… it, the bottom one I mean, is Interesting – hmm that leans towards the charge again, doesn’t it? But I don’t mean it that way, it is interesting… I’m not sure I’d feel particularly flattered if I were her, but it catches your interest. Those colors, as long as I can remember, have made me think of insanity, so there’s the interesting – the expression says ‘solid, thoughtful’, the coloring says danger, unbalanced, tormented.
Is that just me?
(by colors, I mean those shades of yellow and green)
Uh oh, insanity. I wasn’t thinking of that either. Fortunately, she seemed to like it. I’m not sure whether that reflects on her, me or both š
Although, to be fair the green only came about as a natural consequence of the yellow and blue mixing on the paper. Given my druthers, they wouldn’t have blended so easily. The blue seemed very overpowering at the time, so I was trying to go easy on it, but what can you do? Live and learn.
“Iām not sure whether that reflects on her, me or both”
Heh… no, probably just me… what can I say….
š
Just so’s you know: no diplo-speak from me! “Different,” “interesting,” “nice” — all true! In the future, I will be more precise; something along the lines of “Unhn . . . Walt like!“
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I know you weren’t being diplomatic, Walt. I just thought it was funny. No need to be more precise!
LOVE that last sketch! Frame it. Hang it.