Heads and figures.......sigh....the obsession persists.

Well its March and this is my first post of the year. Although I have been remiss in my posting, I have been painting up a storm. I continue my plan on one still life a week.

Half Figures

I have been trying to paint "half figures". That is heads with more than shoulders attached. I find it challenging....it means the head is smaller than I am comfortable with and the focus point is not always the face. Yet another way to challenge myself....or is it punish?????

Costumes

Every once in a while the model shows up in a costume. GRRRRR. I am not excited. But then again....this is a challenge. Can I make it work? Can I tell a story? How can I enjoy the pose and the session? So , not my choice, but an opportunity to learn, and to have fun with something different.

Flowers

In yet another hairbrained attempt to develop, I started painting a floral still life once a week.

Flowers are hard. The detail is eye catching, the intense colors interfere with harmony, and the translucense confuses the shadow and light. I figured that learning to simplify and abstract would be crucial and carry over to all my work. I think it is working, but most of all, I am having fun!

Landscapes

These are all painted in the studio and are 16x20.

More Heads

I especially like the third picture, the short dark haired woman. The harmonies are effective and the close values between light and shadow are but not confused . The vignette works well and the painting seems fresh and effortless. Would that all my paintings were this strong.