Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Conquistador


I taught an acrylic painting class last night. The assignment: how to use a reference photo, evaluate it in painterly terms and produce a painting from it. Above, is a 40 min. demonstration of what I wanted the students to accomplish during the duration of the class.
Posted by at 8:25 AM

6 comments:

  1. Just wondering, what colors did you use to mix the skintones in this portrait?
    Did you paint this alla prima? Or did you make a sketch/quick greyscale underpainting first?
    Were the students to create their own composition from the ref photo?
    Been playing with acrylics recently so all kinds of questions are popping up :)
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  2. Hi Johan,

    For the skin colors and for most of the painting, I used a range of earthy hues: burnt sienna, raw sienna, burnt umber, raw umber, cad red and white.

    Yes, I strived to complete this painting in an alla prima fashion. However, acylics with their speedy drying time, makes it a challenge. As result, I constantly spray my palette with a water spritzer.

    I do make a rough sketch using burnt sienna, but nothing tight or detailed. Really, I just establish the general shape of the head and then I jot down the shadow landmarks of the face I'm painting. Shadow landmarks, meaning: the dark areas within the eye socket, under the nose, bottom lip and chin.

    With the students, there wasn't too much time to elaborate on composition. I do try to instil the notion that a painters job is not to mimic a photograph. Rather, to use it along with one's vision to create a strong and appealing painting.

    I'm glad to hear you're working with some acrylics. Let me know whenever you have some questions. Maybe I can answer some of them for you or point you to a good resource.

    Thanks and happy painting!
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  3. Thanks Daniel, for explaning your methods.
    It's very helpful.
    I am still quite novice at painting so I am still looking for a procedure that works well for me. Rough sketch with a basic color sounds great. Indeed, I agree it's bad to be a slave of the reference, but it's one of the hardest things to do imo, to get away from detail after years of trying to draw accurately.

    There are products called "retarder" to make the acrylic paint dry slower. Why do you use the waterspraying instead? Isn't there a danger of the paint running down that way? Or do you use the more pastuous acrylic paint?

    Well that's the great thing about acrylics eh... so many possibilities...
    Can't wait until weekend so I can make another one :)
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  4. I'm glad to help.

    Yeah, I have some retarder too. For the quick paintings, though, I just mist my palette with the spritzer every 5 to 10 minutes. Since it's a mist, the paint doesn't run...unless you get excessive with it.

    Have fun:)
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  5. Dear Daniel,

    Wow - I can finally say "I was there when he painted that!" I've always wanted to say that! :)

    I just wanted to pop in and say "Hi" after finding your blog. I was looking to see if you had any of your work on line because a friend wanted to see who/what I was talking about. So glad to find your blog and to see a "familiar" face (yours as well as this painting!).

    I want to thank you for your friendly and helpful approach in our class. I have learned so much (even if its not evident to others - LOL!) and I have enjoyed it immensely. You're a great teacher and I appreciate the help, the encouragement and expertise you bring to the classroom. It's a pleasure to go there, to learn and then to go home and practice, practice, practice.

    For myself, I really DO want to improve and I am painting every night (even when I don't feel like it) trying to learn this lyrical "language". It is a true journey of the spirit --- and you know what??? I think it's possibly even more demanding than a physical workout/exercise. The body at rest, just stays at rest. But the soul is always in motion.
    Thanks for helping me to keep up the momentum.
    I've linked to you on my blog roll and hope you get some cool visitors from it.

    Very best wishes to you, your wife/family and for your art in 2010.
    Suzanne at Dynamics Acrylics Class/NMA.

    http://makinsense.wordpress.com
    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Suzanne,

    Many thanks for the kind words :) I'm happy you paid my blog a visit. I try to update regularly, but sometimes I get a little behind. Hopefully, I will get around to posting the portrait I painted in last night's class.

    Painting is one of those endeavors where you have to persevere and put in a lot of brushing mileage. And, really, there's no end to it. You just learn to enjoy the process.

    One thing to consider, is drawing and painting go hand-in-hand. If you ever have the inclination or time, the museum offers a great life drawing class.

    I know what you mean about it feeling like a physical exercise program. Even though the class is low-key, it keeps you mentally on your toes. It always takes me awhile to wind down after class.

    Anyhow, thanks again for dropping by. See you next week!
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