On occasions, it is exhilarating to try a different technique from normal and to move out of one’s comfort zone. In this portrait, I will be demonstrating a much more spontaneous approach to my usual carefully considered one.
Such a process gets the adrenalin flowing and can even be scary, particularly if one is demonstrating in front of an audience. Will it work? Will I be able to pull the rabbit out of the hat? Could it be my Waterloo?
I begin with my canvas stained with a pale wash of Viridian Green. As I wish to work quickly, my colours are already pre-mixed on the palette. With a large brush and lots of turpentine, I indicate the basic shape of the head and the position of the features. But I am aware that most of this will change as the painting proceeds.
I now make liberal use of the palette knife and large hog’s hair brushes to lay on slabs of colour. I go straight way for the mid tones, allowing the cool underpainting to show through in places. It appears to be chaotic, but is it? After about 25 minutes of hectic activity, the painting looks like this.
When it was shown to the sitter, his look of horror said it all! “What a horrible daub! Does this man really know what he is doing?”
Watch my subsequent blogs to see how the painting developed!
FIVE TOP TIPS
Try something different, a new approach.
Don’t panic if it seems to be going wrong.
Expect the unexpected .
Take advantage of those happy accidents.
Most of all, enjoy.
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