Painting from Life - And the Essential Homework

Since my (semi) retirement in July of this year, I've had more time to paint.  I can't say that I've taken full advantage of the increased opportunity, but as I make the mental transition from the regime of the past (sometimes very comfortable) to the freedom of the present (sometimes very disorienting), I begin to see new pathways and new ways of thinking about what I do and how I do it.

One thing that should have been clear all along, but strangely wasn't,  is that although increased painting time is invaluable to growth, particularly in the handling of materials and the resolution of painting problems, mere repetition isn't enough. Doing the same thing over and over - or to put it another way, making the same mistakes over and over - just reinforces current approaches both good and bad.  So for the last two months or so, I've begun to add a level of "study" to my painting efforts.

Among other "homework" I've spent some time reviewing Andrew Loomis's books on drawing the head and the figure.  Originally published in the mid- 1940's, both books have been reissued in very affordable editions.  They are treasure chests of information on the subject with wonderful and detailed information on proportions and shapes.  Studying and practicing this foundational information has helped my life painting sessions as I spend less time fixing drawing errors and more time trying to create an artwork.

I also continue my study of limited palettes.  "Gary" was done with the Zorn palette of white, black, red and yellow.  "Sassy" was done with something closer to the Kathleen Dunphy palette of yellow, naples yellow, red, and ultramarine blue, to which I added transparent oxide red.  These limited palettes are so wonderfully freeing.  You would think that it might be just the opposite, that not having 20 colors on your palette to choose from would be constraining,  but after a very small learning curve, I've found that the limited selection has many, many benefits.  But that's a subject for another post.

For now, here are two paintings done from life this month.  Both took about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. 

"Gary"    Oil on linen  11 x 8 1/2 

  

"Sassy"   Oil on linen   12 x 16 

My Art Site: Bruce Hancock Fine Art

Zane -- An Oil Portrait from Life

Lately I've had extra time to attend open studio events and to paint in my own studio.  I am beginning to appreciate not only the value of painting more frequently, but also the invaluable experience of painting from life, whether it is a model or a still life.  There's really no substitute.  That's not to say that painting from photographs is a no-no....I have to do it all the time, frankly...but simply that there is nothing else that matches painting from life.  Do it whenever you can.

This painting was done at an open studio at Patris Studio and Art Gallery.  I am more and more interested in limited palettes and today I used a "Zorn" palette of yellow ochre, cad red medium and Ivory black....with titanium white, of course.   I really like the result.

Zane    Oil on linen  12 x 16"

My Art Site: Bruce Hancock Fine Art