Snippet Sunday - Underpainting, redux and a quick watercolor

[wayfaringwordhack]

With our trip out of town this week and a healthy dose (har har) of the crud for the kids and me, I did the minimum on the creative front this week.

Actually, that is not entirely true! I did a minimum on my oil painting, but I did some drawing exercises; loosely copied some designs from this book; speed-sketched a couple of animals for Sprout to guess; and I did a quick watercolor sketch of some date palms at Anafora. I wanted to remember the vibrant, jewel-like colors and variety of dates ripening there in this season:

I moved before finishing my sketch, which is why my composition is weird.

Here is the "progress" on the oil painting. I corrected the shape of her head and started laying in some colors on the hair as well as a light glaze over her skin. This stage is the one that freaks me out, the one where it pretty much looks like a mess. I have to have faith that it will get there as I lay on more layers, rounding out the forms, brightening the colors, refining the details...

"A work in progress, a work in progress," that is my mantra.

Comments

[nipernaadiagain.livejournal.com]

I love the date palms and oil painting seems like something that needs strong nerves ... but I enjoy following your progress and am looking forward to next steps.

I feel bad about not drawing, but have only floor and table littered with pieces of paper with ideas ... most of them WRITTEN and not even drawn down

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wonder if people understand the amount of courage it takes for me to show these "messes". :P My nerves seem strong, but I wonder....

And at least you are still getting ideas, even you if don't have the time, energy, or serenity of spirit to draw them right now. The well is still giving, and that is a blessing.

*hugs*

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I think I can imagine the courage. I think I definitely can. Thank you for being brave--we're all the luckier for it.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Well, I think everything looks good :)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

You are my encouraging pea.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

*love* the date palms--how else would I ever see dates! Did I even know that they came from palms? No!

And I am loving seeing the painting of Sprout evolve.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I'm going to post of pictures of date palm trees once I start feeling better.

It is good for me to post the pics of my progress because I can see things that are wrong. :P Like, I fixed her head, but I didn't fix it enough. I am working from a cropped photo and am having to imagine some bits. What I have is too rounded. I'll fix it in the next pass.

[oiktirmos.livejournal.com]

The palms are wonderful.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

thanks. I'm having more fun doing quick sketches because I put less pressure on myself about the outcome. :)

[athgarvan.livejournal.com]

I like those. Keep up the good work.