Medusa Continues

Here is the progress so far. I will start the snakes tomorrow.

Transfer Methods

When I looked for my graphite paper at the studio on Sunday, it was no place to be found. So instead of waiting to go to my local art supply store, I used a centuries old method of getting my drawing onto my canvas. On the backside of the tracing paper that now has Medusa reworked, I took some hard charcoal and rubbed it all across the back of the tracing paper. I then shook off the loosest pieces of charcoal and laid the tracing paper over my canvas board, affixed it in place with some tape and then proceeded to trace the outline of the drawing with a stylus or ballpoint pen. I was careful to apply enough pressure to push the charcoal onto the canvas and yet not leave any indentations from applying too much pressure. This leaves a delicate tracing, that you must be very gentle with so as to not smudge or remove the drawing until you can permanently get it drawn onto the canvas with a grisaille. I like a blue grey oil paint thinned with odorless thinner to do my grisaille. For this grisaille, I am using Gamblins' Torit Grey.

You can see in the photo that the tracing paper hand is now raised and very dark....I did smudge it a bit, but not enough to ruin it. You probably can't make out the new expression on the face, but in the next step, you will be able to see the changes.

Sketch of Bronson

My model Jennifer, is such a good sport. And so I did this little sketch of her dog, Bronson, as a way to thank her for all the free modeling she does for me. Models are hard to come by in the country. Bronson is done in Conte and pastels on blue Canson paper. Behind him is the original sketch of Jennifer as Medusa. I have since redrawn her. New Medusa photos are coming up soon.

Medusa Changes Already

No pictures today, but will take one later of the revisions I have already decided to make to Medusa. I allowed my husband to see the original drawing and told him I was thinking of changing the expression in her face. He agreed that she was not mean or surprised enough looking. We also agreed that the upraised hand was too relaxed and needed more tension, maybe even a different position. I had Jennifer come back into the studio for a few more poses and photos. I think she is very good at getting the expression or poses I am searching for and we now have a winner. I laid tracing paper over my original drawing and changed the face and hand only on the tracing paper. Today I will place transfer paper under the drawing and get the parts I still like onto the canvas and then do the same with the revisions. Tomorrow I will post a photo of the revised Medusa.

My Return to Still Life

When I first started seriously learning to paint in the late 1990s, I painted still life. The objects did not move on me and my kitchen was filled with subject matter. As my confidence grew, I branched out into animals, but from photos. Again, I needed my subjects to stay still for long periods of time. I bought books at every opportunity and copied from them to educate myself. From time to time I tried my hand at landscapes. I found that although I like landscape art, I don't like bugs and wind and the constant change of the sunlight. But I continued landscape painting, by visiting the site, snapping lot of pictures and making a few sketchs and color studies. All from the comfort of the car or a shady spot to sit. I progressed to painting portraits, my first true love. What a challenge, to not only create a beautiful painting, but to also get a likeness. I now find that when doing a portrait, I am really excited about the objects in the painting along with the person. HMMMMM Still Life? It appears my art education has come full circle.

I am currently working on a series of still life paintings in a simple format, with dark backgrounds and a common element in each. This is the latest in the group of grape paintings with the kitchen hand towel. I have five completed and hope to do another five this summer.

Medusa Begins

OK, I know this is hard to see, but here we go anyway.

Dear Sweet Jennifer, the model for Venus, has agreed to be Medusa also. That is a real stretch for her and you can see by my layout drawing that she does not look very mean. In all of the reference photos I took of her, not one of them has a contorted enough expression to suit my taste or concept of this next painting. I think I will call her back into the studio and work on getting the expression more surprised and mean looking. Now that I am looking at it on the computer, I am thinking I want the raised hand in a different gesture. I also noticed that the lowered arm is a bit awkward and could use some attention.

Speaking of attention, I am such an ADD HD personality and hate to waste a minute, always wanting to rush right into the details. In the past, I have usually done this first step on the canvas in the form of a grisaille. The next day what was put on the day before is usually dry and I am stuck with the drawing even if I want to change direction or concept. I am doing more work on paper ahead of time these days. Its another step, but eliminates a lot of changes down the road, if I think things out on paper first.

Milestones

This week I have reached two milestones......turned 59 and entered the world of the technogeek. I received a laptop computer from my husband with a birthday card inscribed with "I could not let you be the only student without a laptop". He was refering to the upcoming Illustration Master Class. Not required, but most artists are using them. I was really wanting one, secretly. And to make this the best birthday ever, my son and daughter in law gave me tickets to see "Wicked" at the Kennedy Center in DC.