Sunday, January 25, 2009

DRAWING MARATHON PAINTING OF SHANNON


Today was another drawing marathon at the Palo Alto Art Center. I decided to stay on the "long pose" side and work with my new slow drying acrylics on canvas. At the last minute, I had the "brilliant" idea to collage some papers on one canvas and cover the other with red gesso. The freshly gessoed canvas was partially wet when I had to leave (that's the brilliant part) but my carpeting, car and clothing managed to come out unscathed.

I painted Shannon in the morning and was very pleased with the result. There are two layers of tissue. The first with several shades of blue paint on tissue, the second what was left of my stamping session a few days ago. I felt like I was getting the hang of these new paints. Then came the afternoon session.....a total waste of paint! (It's never a waste of effort) Like I always say, you can slap some gesso over a bad painting.

If you attend these sessions very often you start to see the same models over and over. Some you fall in love with and are excited to draw or paint them, and some annoy you for whatever reason. I was not happy with the afternoon model and somehow that seemed to show up in the final results. I am thinking about putting some collage over the image and a few other altering ideas and then working on it some more. The best part about having a painting you don't like is you have no fear of ruining it, so exploring other ideas is very liberating. There's a pony in there somewhere!

There was a gentleman at the Marathon who does beautiful charcoal figures and he had made a book through a website called "blurb.com" I checked it out when I came home and I am very excited. I think I will create a workbook to go along with my "Variations" workshop. I think there will be room in the book (40 pages) to include some of the work people have sent me of the Frenchman. I will get everyone's permission beforehand. If you have done something and never sent it to me, it's not too late. This little project may take some time.

Speaking of workshops, my website has been updated with the most current workshop dates along with descriptions of each of the three workshops I give along with slide shows and photos. Click on the title of this post and it will take you to my web page. I have 4 scheduled for this year and 4 for next year. I like to do 6 each year, so pass the word on if you would like me to come to your area.

8 comments:

Ken Goldman said...

Hi Myra,

I like this type of model and you really did a good job of integrating the stamping collage techniques with fine painting! We had a long pose this morning with a rubenesque model too. We get to have three more hours with her next Sunday. I may try some of your collage ideas on it. Thanks for sharing!
You've just about got me inspired to get back to my own "monthly" blog

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Like the skin tones - what colour paints do you use. ? Liked the idea of adding tissue to create a texture.

Cecelia said...

I'm having trouble with my skin tones, too, lately. If I use any yellow, it seems to just turn into a glaring bright yellow-especially when I scan it. I always had good results with a little red, yellow, blue, and green, but it doesn't seem to be working now.
I enjoyed my figure drawing classes, but was not pleased with my results as I wanted realism. Now that I look back at those drawings, they aren't nearly as bad as I thought they were at the time.

Anonymous said...

Hi Myrna, I think this is a fascinating painting. The texture works well with the figure and I like the expression. We did a book similar to what you're talking about with "blurb.com" using another service, "snapfish", though I think we only had 20 images. I think you're idea of making one around The Frenchman sounds fun.

RH Carpenter said...

Beautiful skintones and light on her to shape her body - I like a model with more to draw and paint :) and she fits the bill perfectly. Sorry about the afternoon waste of paint :(
Carol Carter has created a book using Blurb.com and it's gorgeous! Has over 40 of her paintings inside and I am very pleased with it.

Elflling said...

I love this work! Would really like to attend these drawing marathons also... I remembered that you mentioned about the yahoo group about these drawing marathons, but did not find it when I googled it. Can you point out the link for me? Thanks a lot...

sanjeev joshi said...

I am new to most of the terminology used in this blog.i dont understand the meaning of The frenchman,creating a book using other services etc.Anyway i will visit blurb.com and sites mentioned.
About the painting, its wonderful!the textures you create are superb.

Meera Rao said...

wonderful textures! Reading your techniques I am now tempted to experiment with collages, various underpaintings and stampings --you make it look so exciting

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