Skip to main content

Practice

Today's work is based on John Melhuish Strudwick's Angel with a Scroll dated 1895.

The image was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core) and painted primarily with Japanese watercolors plus a few fluid acrylics (gold, white, purple).  Other embellishments were done with a gold Sakura Pen Touch marker and a black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm).  

This was quite an undertaking!  It is a double panel from my new sketchbook.  I had to use a ruler for the background that has perspective.  What I like most are the wings because there is a sense of form to them.  By the way, this is the second time I've painted a face in with watercolor.  

Areas that didn't come out well include the pink clothing--the top didn't work well in that color.  Her body looks a bit awkward, but it is partially due to the lines used to reflect fabric folds.  I think I could have taken off some girth and perhaps added a bit of height to the figure.  For now, though, it is done.  I'm glad I took it on.  It was a reach and a good effort and learning experience.  Because I love Strudwick's work, it made the process most enjoyable.  


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Review: Four Hands, Two Sonatas

Netflix has been advertising this limited Korean series recently added to the site's line-up.  The title peaked my interest.  So, I started watching it with no expectation other than knowing it was about two pianists.   I really liked how this Korean production was dubbed in English.  The English speakers (voice sound/tone/character) were terrifically cast as well as the timing of the spoken words' consistency with the mouthing of the Korean actors on-screen dialogue.   This series' storyline has a number of facets:  bullying, wealth vs poverty and access to arts training, musicianship, stage fright, competition, friendship, rivalry, sabotage, lack of confidence, revenge, etc.  The music is primarily classical and is lovely.   Four Hands, Two Sonatas is an off-beat show.  That said, I really enjoyed it (and the piano playing is terrific too)!  As a prior musician--there are many topics it brought up that I understand.   Overall, the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Free Online Creative Retreat: Art Oasis 2026

I haven't participated in this retreat series before.  But I learned about it through an artist I follow, and she will be leading one of the sessions.  The retreat starts October 17th and runs through October 23rd (2026).  If you're interested in an opportunity to play artistically, here is the link for more information and where you can sign-up: https://jessicaswift.com/pages/art-oasis
Post a Comment
Read more

New Project in Progress

I'm working on a new project with multiple layers and shapes of different colored organzas.  It is an interpretation of lighting on an ice rink...from a show I recently saw.  There is a lot more stitching to do, but I like how its coming along.  I'm learning organzas are not easy to work with especially when you layer them and have overlaid edges.  The fabric also tends to ravel easily. This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .
9 comments
Read more