The exercise calls for a head and shoulders portrait of a sitter, but for the over-riding reason of social distancing, I’m resorting to myself again. I’m still angry at the avoidability of the position we’re in although very grateful for … Continue reading Part 3, project 2, exercise 2
I was ready to paint this straight off; angry with the world for its negligence when it comes to wildlife and the consequences this has unleashed on us, this could be subtitled ‘the corona years 2020-2021’ because that is how long this will last for anyone in the older age bracket or with other vulnerabilities in the absence of a vaccine. I’ve used a limited palette of phthalo blue, titanium white, Payne’s grey, alizarin crimson, and dab of sap green on some A2 cartridge prepared with transparent gesso and a wash of Naples yellow/Payne’s grey mix. I applied the paint … Continue reading Part 3, project 2, exercise 1 – self portrait
15th March 2020. As a note for the chronology of this set of circumstances, and because the relevance of those circumstances may not immediately come to mind in the future, Europe is now the epicentre of the Coronavirus (CORVID-19) pandemic. Here in the UK, those of us over 70 years of age or with health vulnerabilities are advised to stay away from enclosed spaces and to keep a social distance of 2 m between themselves and other people. In the next few days, the expectation may be that we will self-isolate at home, perhaps for several months. This affects every … Continue reading Coronavirus (COVID-19)
15th March 2020. As a note for the chronology of this set of circumstances, and because the relevance of those circumstances may not immediately come to mind in the future, Europe is now the epicentre of the Coronavirus (CORVID-19) pandemic. Here in the UK, those of us over 70 years of age or with health vulnerabilities are advised to stay away from enclosed spaces and to keep a social distance of 2 m between themselves and other people. In the next few days, the expectation may be that we will self-isolate at home, perhaps for several months. This affects every … Continue reading Coronavirus (COVID-19)
This is based on one of two earlier sketches that I quite like. The other I am reserving for a later exercise. It doesn’t quite meet the criteria in that there are no limbs in view but for now, this … Continue reading Part 3, project 1, exercise 3 – tonal painting
This first exercise calls for a series of sketches, ideally of another person but under current circumstances this isn’t possible and so I am reliant on a mirror. The idea is to use line rather than tone but I seem … Continue reading Part 3, project 1, exercises 1&2 – drawing the human figure
I am going to document this because it’s my first and so far I have done almost everything wrong – mostly because I had no real grasp of what is required. First, I couldn’t find any guidelines as to what … Continue reading Preparing for formal assessment – documenting the first time so I don’t make these mistakes again
This task calls for a still life which can either be a new arrangement or based on an earlier sketch. The support is to be A3 minimum and can be treated paper, card, or canvas, and in the spirit of … Continue reading Part 2, Assignment 2 – still life (subject to editing)
Project 4 is about interiors and this task requires an investigation into the way the Dutch genre painters, as they were called, achieved their sense of realism, space, and the occupants in the room. Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) was one of these and happens to be one of my favourite artists because of the warmth he brings out in his portrait models. His interiors, though, impress as well; their domesticity and mundane but beautifully intimate and gentle compositions where so often the key character is shown in light from a high window. This one, The Milkmaid c 1658-60 (left), for me … Continue reading Part 2, project 4, research point 4 – Dutch realist genre painters
Perspective is the visual phenomenon that creates a sense of distance, shape, and volume in a scene. The simplest is called linear or parallel perspective, the one we would all recognise from films in which train tracks converge on a … Continue reading Part 2, research point 5 – linear perspective
Strayfish Arts 