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Debra Jones · 02-03-2004, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the comments.

I only just this month did what I would call a fully traditional piece from the Chris Saper workshop. I did a couple of dark backgrounds with well worked and cleanly modulated skin. I felt satisfied but got a rash of input from my peers about the LACK of my personal style.

I work alla prima. Habit from 80% open studio over the last 5 years. I can whip a nice loose 20x16 in three hours. Sort of like jogging. I do likeness well. BUT I have not had to please a model in many moons. The latest excercises have forced me to work and re-work.

I am not comfortable with the traditional glazing and layering of paint. I am a bad planner and it does not suit my temperment. I think this rash of experiments is a rebound from the tightness I have been exploring. I still like working alla prima, but this underpainting has really freed me from tackling everything at once.

Building the likeness in gray tones, the way I LIKE to do it, much like a charcoal drawing, is easy and exciting. Overpainting is manic. I have not slept much because I am so able to paint more as I was taught only making color choices, not value decisions, and fighting the likeness etc.

The defense of the colored surface is a marketing idea. I want to see if the style works, I may market through designers so I will be able to guarantee I will match the sofa BEFORE I take on the commission!

Here is the piece from Chris's class.
http://forum.portraitartist.com/atta...=&postid=29794

02-03-2004, 04:19 PM	#8
Debra Jones Juried Member Featured in Pastel Journal Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 457	Experiments abound. Thanks for the comments. I only just this month did what I would call a fully traditional piece from the Chris Saper workshop. I did a couple of dark backgrounds with well worked and cleanly modulated skin. I felt satisfied but got a rash of input from my peers about the LACK of my personal style. I work alla prima. Habit from 80% open studio over the last 5 years. I can whip a nice loose 20x16 in three hours. Sort of like jogging. I do likeness well. BUT I have not had to please a model in many moons. The latest excercises have forced me to work and re-work. I am not comfortable with the traditional glazing and layering of paint. I am a bad planner and it does not suit my temperment. I think this rash of experiments is a rebound from the tightness I have been exploring. I still like working alla prima, but this underpainting has really freed me from tackling everything at once. Building the likeness in gray tones, the way I LIKE to do it, much like a charcoal drawing, is easy and exciting. Overpainting is manic. I have not slept much because I am so able to paint more as I was taught only making color choices, not value decisions, and fighting the likeness etc. The defense of the colored surface is a marketing idea. I want to see if the style works, I may market through designers so I will be able to guarantee I will match the sofa BEFORE I take on the commission! Here is the piece from Chris's class. http://forum.portraitartist.com/atta...=&postid=29794 __________________ http://dog-a-dayartblog.blogspot.com/ Because some people have four legs.