Tag: oil crayon

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Self portrait

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Flipping through the drawing course folder I came across the horrifying prospect of having to deliver a self portrait. I’ve never drawn anyone else before, other than the life models at art college over 50 years ago, so the idea of drawing myself turned me cold. At least I knew how to keep myself still – a photograph. But heck, that meant a selfie and I detest those too but it was going to have to happen. I decided to get some practice in so naturally I went for a large-ish canvas and slapped a layer of gesso on it. … Continue reading Self portrait

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Self portrait – is this it?

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Whatever else, I may have found a better use for cling film than wrapping cucumbers. Here we go, what do you think? What’s the cling film thing all about then? In a selfie-obsessed world I hate them; possibly because however I hold the phone, I always look like a witch. I haven’t got round to applying filters though, instead I go old school and aim the camera at a mirror where at least I can keep a bit of distance between me and the eventual image. So I took a photo of a reflection and then made a painting of … Continue reading Self portrait – is this it?

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Not quite ‘last’ – painting revisited

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Art is a lot like writing, an ongoing process of edits, revisions, and the murdering of darlings – who knew? This is where I left off a day or so ago, thinking that’s it, no more, it is what it is. But no; it sat there looking heavy and lacking while at the same time seeming to have some potential, even if of the sort that only its creator could love. I’ve gone for the ‘edit-by-gesso’ strategy under the dubious influence of BST jetlag (one hour forward and I might as well have flown to New York, I’m that discombobulated) … Continue reading Not quite ‘last’ – painting revisited

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Follow that painting, day last

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I may have killed it. On the other hand, it may have more life in it than before I decided on a background to make it ‘pop’ then began fiddling around with the figurative elements. This was yesterday, a fairly ordinary portrait with not much to recommend it. And here’s today’s version which, to my surprise, looks better on-screen than out there on the easel. There’s more gouache (also some white watercolour because I ran out of white gouache), oil crayon, conte and charcoal, a calligraphy pen for scratching out top layers to reveal lower ones, some paper towel dabbing, … Continue reading Follow that painting, day last

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Follow that painting Day 2 (or maybe 3)

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I’ve been squinting at this thing sideways for a little while, trying to decide what to do with it. Persevere and see if I can wrangle a decent image out of it or take the coward’s way out and smother it? I’ve had another go. Or two. Here’s the horror movie version; some undercoating to use as a base for colour layers but creepy or what?   Happier with that for now but oh look at that fat, flat wrist! I’ve added more gouache to the surface then, once dry, some detail with oil crayon which can be applied then … Continue reading Follow that painting Day 2 (or maybe 3)