Portrait of Hooter – Part Three

Nearly half way through the painting, I would like to just point out that this type of painting is a slow process. The first dead layer of the grey values is in positions and just about ready for another layer similar to this one to be put into position.

Before it is time to add the second dead layer a revaluation the work will need to be done. Any corrections to the painting will have to be made in the final dead layer. Also, the darks and highlights will be developed in the following layer. As soon as the next stage dries the placing of colour will begin.

Portrait of Hooter
Part one
Part two

-Kim Bennett

Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver, acrylic on canvas board, 8" X 10" inches

I’m just popping this painting up to show you. This is a taxi driver was painted last summer using a direct approach. It was done in a portrait class taught by Arthur Evans (no links!). He supplied me with the photo of the taxi driver and the street scene photo later on. It must be said that he taxi driver's features were a pleasure to work with.

The portrait that I am currently working on is, for the moment, looking very realistic and tight. For a realistic perspective, the painting is fine as it's keeping within the likeness of the subject. The time that has gone into the care of blending is heading towards greater realism and a cleaner painting.

Without dwelling too much into it, I have been wondering a little too why this is and what relevance will it have to the final stage. Mind you, it is a warming experience to have and being relaxed and just let things happen in a learning process is reassuring.

The first dead layer of my most recent portraiture should be finished in the next couple of days. I wasn’t kidding about the amount of care going into it. Hopefully I'll have it posted by the end of the week.

One of hurdles that has developed during this painting is my better half comments of the experiencing a curious odour of solvents lingering through the house. With no desire to go shopping and to continue to live and paint here, without being sent to the shed, a non-toxic and odourless solvent has been rediscovered in storage. (A little reminisce from back in the day.)

This solvent has been used in the house before without any questions. In other words, it should do the trick and a much happier studio for it!

-Kim Bennett

Pear 2 - Catching A Muse

Pear #2, 4" x 4" inches, acrylic on MDF

In the Just Paint It - Pears post, it was mentioned that I was going to take what was learnt and make another painting. This process was an idea that had been on hold for a long time.

I had been itching to try this process for quite some time but it had slipped my mind who knows how many times. It was a post by Neadeen Masters called first acrylics on the Traditions Artist Internet Group that reminded me that I was wanting to play with my materials in a particular way.

Well, should we collect ideas or just get on with it and do it? My thoughts are when you have these A-ha moments or when looking at an artist painting and you just get it. That energy should be put to work before it passes you by. Grab your net and let's go and catch that muse!

-Kim Bennett

Just for fun - Rainbow Quiz

Your rainbow is shaded orange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a strong person. You appreciate a challenge. Others are amazed at how you don't give up.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Just Paint It - Pears

JPI- Pears, 5" X 7" inches, acrylic on canvas board

This is a submission for the Art Apprentice Online Yahoo List – Just Paint it challenge.

Sorry that this is not a very good photo. It's not the one of my best pears but I take these once a month JPI challenges to try something different.

It was time for me to experiment with a painting using texture medium.

For this painting, the paste was added until the mix became transparent. When it was found necessary, a faux medium was brushed mix into my colours. It was kind of like watercolour with texture which sort of gives it an encaustic look.

Planning to try this process again with what I have learnt.

-Kim Bennett

Portrait of Hooter - Part Two

For those of you that are following the progress on the Portrait of Hooter this is the second layer of the work in progress. At this stage, the Umber has been put into place and once dry, it will be ready for the dead layer.

My earlier portraits have always been approached more directly which involved a lot of push and pull with the paint. This is my first time using this technique and it is going to take many layers (about seven in total) before the finished piece is achieved.

As the portrait is of my brother and our relationship as siblings is a close one. For that reason, special care is being made to capture his likeness. His likeness becomes lost when too many details have been applied and this will have to be something for me to remain aware during this study.

The question I have, and won’t know until the painting nears the final stage, is where does it become too much or not enough? Any thoughts are welcomed.

Portrait of Hooter
Part one

-Kim Bennett

Portrait of Hooter

Well there is a warning that artist should not paint a portrait of someone close to them. Oh well, so I decided to break the rules. There is still another layer of Umber to go but I decided to let it dry before working any further.

This time I am working from a photograph. It is of a self portrait that my brother once used as a profile for his flicker account. The photo I am working from has so much of his personality. Luckily I saved a copy before he replaced it. The recent photo is another one of my favorites where he is looking distantly out of a window to a beautiful snow scene.

We are worlds apart distantly but I like being around him because music sounds so much better when he's there.

-Kim Bennett