Well, not totally two paintings behind–yet–more like 1-1/2 as of today. I have a solid one-half painting of Grandma, but she’s extremely flat right now and looks like a comic book character. I trailed off to do some pattern and website work, and since then I’ve been helping with the new database for a local food pantry. We’ve been working on it for a year and half now, and I started training others to use it today. It will be 3-4 weeks more, a couple times a week, I think.

I’ll get back to grandma when I feel less pressure elsewhere. I don’t feel guilty about it, ’tis just the way it is.

I did this scary underpainting on purpose. Don’t worry, most of it will be covered over. It is meant to remind me to do two things: Use more color in general, and to inject some shadow. Unfortunately not all photos are taken in natural light, and I am learning to create, or hint at, what should be there. There is some photo distortion also, making everything nearer the camera larger, but I’m going with it anyway because I prefer it over something more formal.

Been looking at my last two sketches of Chris and nephew. They both need more color, and more depth; that is, more values, from light to dark, to make them less flat. I’m accepting that what I can do in 3-5 days is only a sketch. Finishing, and satisfaction (hopefully), come later 🙂 .

Well, here we are, the last day for this one. I only made time to paint three of the five days, and it looks like that’s the way it will probably go for the remainder. Steve doesn’t think I need to work this month, but I beg to differ.

Still, got it most of the way there.

The tie gave me the most grief. I did it twi… thr… four times. I scrubbed it off after #2 and waited a couple hours before I did it again. I’m trying to paint more broadly, but I think I was in too big a hurry by that point. Not enthralled.

I’m finishing in the evening, and correcting and posting photos at night is not ideal. I apologize for the fuzzy.

I admit I’m a little afraid of this one. The photo is very dark; I took it in a dark reception room. There is a danger I will take it too far into the dark and not be able to bring it back. The danger the other way is to not go far enough. You know, self-fulfilling prophecies and all that.

 

Hooray! I’m just under the wire on Day 5 for the first painting in my 6-in-30. I didn’t get here to post a middle picture…I lost a day and was behind.

I am pleased enough for the first painting. It looks like Chris to me. I’m sure I will find tweaking to do when all is over. The marvel of marvels, though, is I did it in five days! I shouldn’t be so shocked, really, I took a portrait class 2 or 3 years ago, and, when pushed, I could get one off the ground in three hours. Not finished, but half way there. On the other hand, as Steve loves to say, and I’ve said before–the last 10% takes 90% of the time.

I’ve chosen my subject for #2. I’ll bring the drawing around tomorrow-ish. Any guesses who shall be next, family?