2 out of 4 Weeks at QAA

I am currently working on a 4 week pose at QAA.  Although I  have a mere 12 hours to work on this figure, I decided to paint adhering to what I learned in Garrett's class at ARA.  In Garrett's workshop, I had 32 hours with the model, but I hope that by continually approaching a subject using the ARA procedure, I will improve my own technique.  By the way, full time students in the ARA program have 90 hours for one pose!!!!!

In order to work on most of the steps I learned in Garrett's class, I will proceed as follows:

Week One:  Drawing
Week Two: Dry Brush
Week Three: Dead Color
Week Four: First Painting

I omitted a value study only on account of the limited time I have with the model.

Weeks One - Three are complete.  I am posting only the first 2 weeks, because I am still working on the dead color.  The coordinator of the group took photos of the model, so I may want to continue to dead color.  I doubt, though, that I will be able to paint much, since I can't really determine temperature in the photograph.  The figure is much too flat and the skin has an orange glow, which it does not in person.

Week One:

Week Two:

I am actually rather satisfied with what I have accomplished.  During the first week, I achieved a likeness, and the dry brush during the second helped with dimension.  I worked faster than normal, and I did not have the assistance of a teacher.

The Transformation of Jill

This summer I painted Jill, The Goat, for my friend Leslie.  I had promised her I would paint her beloved cat, and I mostly did it in the manner I learned in Garrett's class.

Drawing:

Transfer:

Obviously I fixed some areas from the above drawing before I transferred.  I must not have taken a picture of the better drawing.

Dry Brush:

Dead Color:

Lots of Paint:

This last part of the process was not ARA style.  I just painted with little medium (walnut oil), if any at all, and loads of paint.

Overall, I was happy with the drawing, but I still need to improve my painting.  I do like what I achieved with the texture of the paint, though.

If Leslie is not satisfied, she is welcome to make suggestions.

ARA Work-Finished and Unfinished

I finished my first Bargue drawing at ARA:

As I mentioned on Facebook, Agrippa (above) nearly destroyed me as he did the fleets of the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium.  But what did I expect from the progenitor of both Caligula and Nero?  One Bargue copy down, 3 to go.  For my second Bargue, I am working on Dante, who will certainly lead me through Hell.  I chose Dante because he has many dark tones.  I am terrible at rendering darks, thus I thought it would be a good learning experience for me.  I finished the initial cartoon.  Now I am working on specifics before I transfer onto good paper.  I am still struggling with line quality.  I get too dark too fast.

During the spring session at ARA, I participated in an 8 week portrait painting workshop with Garrett Vitanza.  I didn't finish the portrait, but if I have some spare time, I may work on her some more.  This portion of the post is more a record for myself than anyting else, though when I first began this blog, I decided to post the good, the bad, and the ugly.


On the first day of the workshop, I decided I would paint instead of draw as I had done in Brian's class.  The reason for this was that the model had beautiful jet black hair, which enhanced her crimson lipstick and complemented her purple sweater.  I realized I wouldn't have enough time to complete the portrait ARA style, but I was so inspired by the model that I decided to attempt to add color anyway.  As far as I can remember, the following is how we worked, if we were going to try to paint with a limited palette.

Weeks One and Two: The Cartoon

I was obsessed with the model's right eye.  All my painstaking attempts at properly placing her right eye failed miserably.  I was assured, however, by both Garrett and Emmy that I would lose the drawing anyway when I placed paint on the canvas, so I proceeded forward.  Garrett pushed us and what I had accomplished in 4 weeks during my last session, I did in 2 this time.  Yet, as I mentioned, I wasn't completely satisfied with the cartoon.

Week Three: Tonal Study

This is a tonal study on an 8 x 10 canvas board using only titanium and ivory.  We mixed 5 values, and went on from there.

Week Four: Dry Brush (with some titanium white)

After toning an 16 x 24 linen canvas with a pile of Van Dyke brown, yellow ochre, and a dab of cadmium red, I transferred the drawing.  In class we dry brushed the tones, and added white at the end for some highlights.  I loved this approach.

Weeks Five-Seven: Dead Color

No details here, just large planes, while carefully considering color temps.

Week Eight: Some First Painting

Since I was one of the few who arrived at this stage (only because I had attended ALL 8 classes and many missed one or two), Garrett used my painting to demonstrate first painting.  He did the eye that looks more complete (and BETTER!) than the rest.  I didn't paint much this week, but I learned from watching Garrett.  

8 weeks and I didn't even get to first paint!  And then there is second painting after first!  What a tedious, tortuous process!  In the end, however, I believe it will be worth it!!

I decided to work on a portrait of my friend's deceased cat using this method.  I progressed in the same manner as the portrait above until I started to first paint.  All went downhill at that point.  Stay tuned to see the outcome!!