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Denise Cat

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I started with the plan of doing a bit of alla prima painting today. I set myself 5 hours but due to heavy clouds and rain, the natural light disappeared to my disappointment. This is 3 hours in and I will set 2 hours tomorrow to finish. Of course my alla prima is up the spout but still, I will only allow the time I had originally planned to give myself. I decided to use an original sketch done from life as a basis for an oil painting. I do use a different approach to portraits but with alla prima, working fast, it was just about blocking in the big shapes with a half inch brush reducing to a quarter inch. Getting a few details in. Having a bit of a mess about the palette. I wasn't particularly too concerned with a likeness to my original sketch. It's all about practice and trying out what works. That's why I approach portraits differently. I don't have a set routine. I've put this on so you can look at how I might tackle an alla prima painting. I would have finished if it had not clouded over. I will post my two further hours tomorrow. It will be finished then, time up. The first picture is my original sketch.
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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Posted
Good to see.
Entwined, abstract

Sandra Kennedy

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Posted
You certainly are a skilled portraitist (if there is such a word!) Denise.
IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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It’s coming along beautifully Denise . 

Norrette Moore

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Posted
Thank-you Denise.  I always think its courageous to block in to such extremes with a large brush.  But you've shown it's the way to go. It'll be great -  taking 5 hours what would take me 5 days (and still not turn out as good)

Diane Boswell

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Posted
Interesting to see this Denise, thank you.

Denise Cat

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This is the 5 hours up now. For the first 20 mins I worked with a flat quarter inch and half inch then then also worked with various sized rounds. The last hour was bringing some of the detail together and with 10 minutes to spare, I put a red jumper on her rather than leave it bare.
Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

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Posted
Excellent, so impressed with what you did in 5 hours.
IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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It’s beautifully done Denise .

Denise Cat

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Thanks for your input everyone. Norrette there is nothing to fear from just getting stuck in. We may make a mess but we learn and expand from it. It's fun. I don't mind making mistakes. I reflect on them and consider,  was this the right approach, what would I do differently next time around. It's also a chance to explore mixing colours which is something I really enjoy.

Denise Cat

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I've brought this back up again. Today I spent 2 hours softening some edges and changing the background colour. I think this model was a dancer and she was very thin. This is more of how I remember her looking. I'll call this finished now.

Edited
by Denise Cat

forum pic p.o

Peter Smith

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You have to know when to stop and it's always the hardest thing to do. I think the picture is fine; her eyes are lovely.
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