Painting a life model

the frenchmodel, originally uploaded by deepwarren.

As part of the painting course I got given for Xmas, we get to do 2 weeks with a life model. This is week 1. It's in oils on paper, with a concentration on using primary colours and staying away form heavy whites and darks. You will notice that i've manged to disobey that by using white on the lampshade/post, and edging in some dark umber.

We spent time drawing it up, trying to think of a composition and generally farting around before (finally) the paint comes out. She was a lovely model, and did a nice pose with good angles on the legs to try and get some shadows going.

Composition seems to be the hardest part of this - i was aiming for more square with the model off to the left, but lounge seems to be determined to center her. Somehow the lampshade - which is actually taller than the model seems to have shrunk down, and has become the object of the models attention.

She wore sunglasses (to shade herself form the studio lights - which are both hot and bright). I've not painted in them in, as they are going to be removed. We're leaving the face till last apparently. Trying to keep it light and sketchy ..

Nude Live @ arthouse

life drawing nude @ arthouse, originally uploaded by deepwarren.

Back to the life drawing spiel after a few years(!?) of not doing any drawing. Well, not 'real' drawing. Like from life. Nude life that is. It's a very relaxed class, with no tutors and 2 models on 2 separate podiums. We had one boy and a girl. Naturally we choose the girl.

Hats on heads, no hats on beds.

hats on tables, originally uploaded by deepwarren.

I've started painting a bit more in the last few weeks. More because I brought a couple of canvas pads off ebay and discovered I really them. Painting on paper, is quick, minimal mess (well, for me) and it dries fast.

Using a lot of darmar varnish/turps and medium (about 1/3 each mix), to get a nice smooth drawing line. Trying too. it's a bit hit and miss, and I'm still overworking everything like there's no tomorrow.

About 7 years ago (pretty much the last time i did any painting, aside from some half-hearted attempts) I did a series of people wearing hats, and it's weird that I've ended up at the same place. Maybe it's just not quite finished yet.

And I'm trying to get large strokes. I just want to paint a big fuckoff painting for the lounge. It's harder to paint something like this than smaller for me. I think it's almost you have to embrace the loud brushstroke. And maybe that means a bigger paintbrush. More mess, I think. But needed, somehow. I've started on a little bundle of an old lady in her coat and hat. It's only 50x70cm, but if i can actually resolve that space, then I can go larger. Somewhere she's gone from dark to gradually lightening up, but trying to go too high-key. But she is wearing the very practical world of a hat and coat, while somehow has the air of being rather old fashioned. Will post pix of the work in progress at the end of today.