The Little Artist

Jean Kelly · 03-29-2005, 01:52 PM

I finally got some of my mdf panels, so this is the first one I made myself. I used gesso for the first layers, then Golden's Acrylic Gesso for Pastel, then a thin layer of tinted acrylic paint. Wow, what a great surface! The panel measures 18x22.

I'm close to done, have more to do on his left hand. I think I've created a tangent with the wall on the right and the edge of the table, so will try to change that. Maybe by moving it or changing the contrast or both. Suggestions are welcome.

Jean

Jimmie Arroyo · 03-29-2005, 05:12 PM

Hi Jean,

There's a lot I like about this so the little stuff that bother me stand out. First, I really dig the background, the jump from dark to light above his head to the right. Someone else may not like it, but I like how it works as an abstract element.

The pencil really bugs me, you may have had intentions on addressing it at a different time, but I brought it up because you only mentioned working on the background and his left hand. There is higher contrast all about the painting, but the pencil falls very flat.

If you were going to change it anyway, then ignore me. I'm sure you'll give it a great finish!

Jean Kelly · 03-29-2005, 06:31 PM

Hi Jimmie,

I keep forgetting that others can't read my mind. You're totally right about the pencil, it's also crooked. There are a lot of little things that I'll be fixing along with his hand. I just forget to mention them.

On another note, you need to take the B vitamins also (B6 in particular)! I'm on a roll here with advice.

Jean

Sharon Knettell · 03-29-2005, 07:00 PM

Jean,

I love the MDF panels with the acrylic gesso, but you don't really need to use a gesso first unless you want a white underlayer. You can use it directly. I tint mine a little bit then I get a large single action Badger airbrush and spray it with Goldens fluid matte
acrylic colors. It makes a fabulous velvety flat surface .
Not all stores carry the matte fluid but the www.italianartstore.com
does. I use the airbrush extender with it. The large airbrush is about $100 and the I use an inexpensive Sears compressor to attach it to. It is like having your own custom spray cans and easy to do.

I think the subject is charming, but before you start ANY composition you have to consider the color harmonies. If this a complementary scheme with the very pink face of the child, then perhaps the jacket should be a greener black than it is and the table a red rather than a yellow brown.

I aways work out my color harmonies before I start so I know where I am going. Before I paint or photograph a subject I make sure that the outfit resonates or harmonizes with the background.

Jean Kelly · 03-30-2005, 01:09 AM

Hi Sharon,

You are right about my not thinking before I started this (color harmony). I really didn't even think about that aspect. I fell in love with the subject. I was painting and my grandson was drawing a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. I walked around the table and noticed the light on him and grabbed the camera. He was so engrossed he never even knew I took the photo. I had to paint it but jumped too fast.

I'll think on it and see what happens tomorrow. If I can't fix it I'll use it as a study.

I printed out your thread from 2003 "MDF for large art panels", and followed what was suggested there. I did first try the pastel ground right on the board but thought it looked awful (I didn't tint the ground first). Next time I'll just tint the ground. How thin do you make the pastel ground. Instructions said 20% to 40% water; I used the lower, so my ground was really thick. It caused some lumping that was hard to smooth out. I felt that a trowel might work better than a brush. I'll check out the fluid matte acrylic for a future purchase. We have an airbrush with compressor, (my step-son was a graffiti artist) but I don't know if I want to mess around with it till summer. No place in this house to use it!

Thank you for the suggestions, you've given me a lot to sleep on, and a reminder to always plan first.

Jimmie, the pencil is all fixed.

Jean

David Draime · 03-30-2005, 01:36 PM

Hi Jean,

There are a lot of beautiful passages throughout this piece. And I especially love the background - what a gorgeous texture! Excellent! You've inspired me....I'm now going to have to try out these MDF panels.

David

Sharon Knettell · 03-30-2005, 04:13 PM

Jean,

I do several thinner layers, usually one horizontal and one vertical. Do not put too much on your brush and DRAG it across the panel. You can try using an acrylic dryer retardant in it so you have more time to work the surface.

A thin, wide brush is better than a thick one, 3-4 inches.

My husband had a spray room built for me out of desperation. He was tired of green or whatever dust covering everthing.

Make sure you get a big airbrush, not the regular small ones.

Jean Kelly · 03-30-2005, 06:02 PM

Hi David, thank you and you must try this. You will love the texture. You can blend for a velvety skin tone or play around with scumbling over and just picking up a light feather of pastel (that's what I did on the background). I found that I couldn't get too detailed though, probably because I put the ground on quite thick. I'll thin the ground more and use a different brush like Sharon says.

Thanks for the feedback Sharon, I'm still mulling over the color harmony while I'm getting more panels ready. I'll drag the airbrush stuff out later and see just what we have here.

Jean

Michele Rushworth · 03-30-2005, 07:14 PM

Nice start, but I'd be careful of using too much alizarin and white mixed together in the shadows. Those two colors together make an intense cool, not the warm that you'd want in your shadows. I've noticed this on several of your recent portraits, too. You may want to really look at some figures in cool light from life and study the color of the shadows. I think you'll find there's not so much hot pink.

Jean Kelly · 03-31-2005, 01:21 AM

Hi Michele,

I've already started switching it around to more ochres and sienna. I changed the shirt and table and now of course nothing works at all. So, I may just wash it all off and start over. I'll see what the trolls have done when I come down in the morning.

Jean