Exercise 1: Self Portrait For this exercise I bought a free standing mirror that I could position on my desk. My large easel I placed behind me and experimented with a selection of throws that I had. The black background was far too harsh. The brown throw could work but was very similar in tone... Continue Reading →
Part 3: Research 1 – Self Portraits
I have chosen to look at self-portraits that I have seen when visiting the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Modern. All photographs, unless otherwise indicated, were taken by me with permission of the gallery staff. Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788) Self Portrait - Circa 1759 Born in Sudbury, Gainsborough is best known as a... Continue Reading →
Figure Drawing Practice
The following sketches have been created following a video program by Croquis Cafe who posted a series of 15 minute life drawing videos using live models. These were compiled with a series of 1 minute, 2 minute and 5 minute poses. Day 1 to 3 can be found in Part 3, Project 1, Exercise 1... Continue Reading →
Portrait and Figure – Project 1: Observing the Human Figure
For part 3, due to the lack of availability of a live model, I will be working from online resources and self-portraits. I have however, enlisted the help of a work colleague for my assignment and who is happy to model nude, so I already have plenty of compositional ideas buzzing round my head for... Continue Reading →
Assignment 2
I am massively struggling for inspiration for this assignment. The notes say I need to demonstrate my understanding of colour which, in my monochrome house, is proving to be difficult when trying to find a source of inspiration. Still life and interiors were my nemesis in Drawing Skills and I really want to do this... Continue Reading →
Assignment 2 – Research
Sydney Bella Sparrow - Spectrum in Silk 2008 The first work I came across was by the American artist Sydney Bella Sparrow. She chooses simple, everyday objects and, working with a mainly black background brings these objects to life on the canvas in a realistic and vibrant way. http://www.sydneybellasparrow.com/paintings.html Spectrum in Silk is a small... Continue Reading →
Part 2: Research 5 – Linear perspective
The theory of linear perspective was developed by Florentine architect/engineers Filippo Bruelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti. The theory is to create an illusion of depth on a flat surface by increasingly reducing the size of objects to appear smaller as the near the vanishing point. The vanishing point is a point on the horizon line... Continue Reading →
Part 2: Research 4 – Dutch Genre Painting and Interiors
Once again I find this a very daunting subject with so little time available for in depth research. For this reason I have chosen five paintings that have caught my eye for various reasons and I will discuss them individually. Johannes Vermeer - Officer and Laughing Girl 1657 Vermeer was a Dutch painter who specialised... Continue Reading →
Close to Home – Project 4: Drawing and Painting interiors
Exercise 1: Quick sketches around the house I have to be honest, I spent very little time on this exercise, particularly as I had already done this for Drawing Skills. I decided that I would use my study where I do most of my work as I wanted to be able to sit at my... Continue Reading →
Part 2: Research 3: Optical Effects
Maximilien Luce - Morning interior 1890 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436923 Luce was a neo impressionist painter, heavily influenced by the pointillist artists such as Georges Seurat. I particularly like ‘Morning Interior’ for its familiar, everyday subject matter and the artists handling of the paint. He has used red, orange, yellow and blue in stippled brushstrokes. Looking closely at... Continue Reading →
Jan's OCA Painting 1 Blog 