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Not copying from the Masters, this time round.
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Message
Posted
I planned to do a portrait today, I was going to try and copy one of the Masters again, as you know, I've been practising portraits looking at pictures of what the greats painted, just doing it by eye from what I can see from the picture. I planned to do exactly that today, there are a few I want to try. I want to build up me experience. Anyway, I stained the canvas this morning. Then, I suddenly thought, I'm going to try and do my daughter. I saw a lot of her yesterday as it was her birthday. I don't feel I have the experience yet and I haven't, how can someone, only after a couple of months of seriously trying portraits but, I thought, I'm going to give it a go. I like how the old portraits look, so I am trying to put her in that type
of setting and dress. I never know how these will turn out until I'm actually finished and I've probably done each one a different way. This, I sketched out in charcoal, then mixed Flake White and Ivory Black and made about 6 tones to do an under painting. Wish me luck, fed back always appreciated.
of setting and dress. I never know how these will turn out until I'm actually finished and I've probably done each one a different way. This, I sketched out in charcoal, then mixed Flake White and Ivory Black and made about 6 tones to do an under painting. Wish me luck, fed back always appreciated.Edited
by Denise Cat
Posted
Great idea Denise; without seeing your daughter, I can't tell how well you have portrayed her, but I love the challenge of doing that; I tried the same with my daughter after copying two of Degas' masterpieces in a London exhibition. fast just as he worked; it came out surprisingly well; looking forward to your finished artwork! Love and God bless, Andy xxx
Posted
Thanks Paul and Andrew. That's a really good portrait of your daughter Andrew. I definitely think it helps to try and study the history of how they did portraits, their various styles and materials. Portraits are not really my thing but the past couple of months, I've been really enjoying reading about the artists and their methods and the history of the era they lived in.
Posted
Ellen, I thought exactly the same thing and was always very disappointed with my attempts. I thought it was an impossible task. So, if I can make a reasonable attempt at one, anyone can. It's practice and persistence and listening to the good advice and tips from the members. You should definitely give it a go, that's all I did, I just give it a go. They will never be great because I'm not a portrait painter but I'll be happy with reaching fair to reasonable.
Edited
by Denise Cat
Posted
I think the most important thing re art is LOOKING. I have learned that through the years. At first I used black and white to describe light and shade. As time went by I began to see nuances of colour…but I was open to that. Some people don’t see it. I look back at earlier work and I can see progression. But I would never think “ I’ve cracked it!” 1. It’s arrogant. 2. I have the view that I’m on a journey. 3. I hope this journey lasts for a while. Denise, I love the fact that you are open to “ learning”. So many people aren’t. They think they have the answers. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Posted
I agree totally Marjorie, it is a big journey and art is so vast, you could live two life times and only learn a small proportion just because of the sheer content of it all. Art is so exciting and enjoyable, you want to learn all you can about it and it's good to continually try different mediums and techniques. There is nothing better than getting up in the morning and trying to figure out how you are going to paint that theme you have in your head, trying to overcome the difficulties when your lack of experience can practically bring you to a halt. I really love learning about it all and trying things out.
Posted
The minute you think you've cracked it - and I never have: not in over 50 years of trying - you're in real trouble. I doubt even Rembrandt thought he'd cracked it: he plainly didn't, or wouldn't have gone on trying until the very end of his life.
It would get very boring, wouldn't it - if you felt you had no more to learn, and could basically just churn stuff out like a duplicator: I realize there do seem to be people who think like that, but I don't think any of them are serious artists - by "serious", I mean artists in whatever form who try new things, keep trying old things, strive for perfection.
Now, being honest - I DO (sometimes) strive for perfection: but a) I know full well I'll never reach it, and b) would any of us recognize "perfection" even if we did reach it? How would one even define it? It's got to be the ultimate fool's errand.
I would like to be really, really good, though! Maybe one day - at least, Denise, you have the advantage of having far more years ahead of you than I have ahead of me; on the other hand, of course - I've got more years behind me.... anyway: point of all this - art is a huge world, without any boundaries I've ever encountered: in those 50 years, I know I've just scratched the surface; I know a lot of technical stuff - but the test is applying what you know; which is where we can all fall down. And I have.....
I can promise you that you could still be painting on your 100th birthday, and still feel you have more to learn - because your mind works that way: you want to keep discovering; and there's more to discover than you, I, or anyone else can ever do in one lifetime. That's why I'm considering the Dracula option - given another 500 years, who knows what I'd be able to do? I understand there are some occupational downsides, however - issues with daylight, damp tombs, problems with blood supply...... always a snag, don't you find?
Edited
by Robert Jones, NAPA
Posted
Andrew, I've "given reputation" to your post: I don't really have much of a clue what that means, but I hope it helps the algorithms! That's an excellent painting (pastel?) of your daughter - true, I've no idea how accurate it is, but I've got a sense of a real person, it's a full face, which is difficult, and - you've tackled the teeth! If there's one thing I try to avoid in portraits, it's the teeth - they can look like piano keys if you don't watch out, but you've got those gnashers right.