This semester has been an interesting one. I was given an immense amount of freedom that at first scared me, but I think it has done me a world of good. I was able to explore my love of maps to a far greater level which is something that I've wanted to do for a while. AND I get to hear feedback on the pieces that I created because I'm putting them in our exhibition (which opens Thursday) so that's really exciting.
What else is exciting is that I tried something new... sort of... today. Really, it's reverting back to paintings I did in high school but with a vast new knowledge of painting. This post is about how I got to this point, what it feels like standing on that point, and where I go from here.
How did I get here? Well, it seems straightforward in my head, but I'm sure it's anything but. I've been itching for a very long time to paint realistically (particularly humans) and lately that itch has become an out of control burning sensation. I have to admit that it was sparked by watching Desperate Romantics, a BBC drama about the pre-Raphaelites. I started feverishly taking books out of the library on Waterhouse, Millais, Sargent, Rembrandt, Velasquez, Whistler, and Bougereau and I did countless Google image searches.
I was convinced that I couldn't work from a photo any more but I had no models at my disposal. I spent quite some time browsing through stock photos I took on two occasions in high school trying to find something I could work with. I found two. Hundreds of photos and I had only two.
Ophelia or Venus.
For reasons that have nothing to do with anything of import to this post, I chose to use the image of me, in my prom dress, in a mud puddle, to use for Ophelia.
Ok, but I have nothing to paint on. I don't have time or money to stretch a canvas and the ones you can buy pre-stretched are really expensive here. All the museum board I had was too small. I did have these rolls of "canvas" and after a fairly brief consideration, I used it. I guess I'll deal with making it work later since it's not stretchable... it's more like paper.
So, after hours of deliberation and much lost sleep, there I was, in my studio, ready to go. I was terrified, but I jumped in. I was doing so many things I was taught not to do. Using a photograph... printed out from a printer none-the-less. I was using tiny brushes and probably too little paint. I was smooshing the paint together to blend it. I was holding the brushes incorrectly... the list goes on.
But I was working. And I was happy. So no matter what I was doing wrong, I didn't care. I worked for a few hours, then I forced myself to stop for dinner. I came back and worked as late as the building would allow me.
So here it is, the work that I got done today (click on the images to see them larger):
Just after dinner (two hours and forty five minutes in)
Detail of how I left it at about 8.30.
Detail of the lower face. Also my first ever successful nose! And I love the mouth. If it wasn't my own, I'd want to kiss it! haha.
The first day's work. Approximately five and a half hours in.
I'm extremely happy with it. So is everyone else that has seen the pictures apparently. I got one shocked look, one pleased nod and smile with some words I could not hear over my ipod, a couple "how much is it"s, a few "you're making prints, riiight?," one "Holy damn...," several "likes", and one surprisingly coherent jumble of casplocked and casplock-less words of awesomeness.
I've also been told it's my best work to date of a human and I agree. I still have to finish it though. The only part that will be easier than the skin is the fold of the dress... but the hair and the surrounding brook are going to be tough. But I'm ready.
I hope that my tutors are ready too, because this is what's getting put up for my assessment.
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