Day 9 (Aug 11): Pastel Portrait

Usually I don't draw before I paint. I start of with the paints and refine later. But this time I tried to do differently.

Sketch with charcoal. Some basic shapes and comparative placements.

After painting, this is what the face looks like.

Added hair. No background is developed nor the clothing. Again, this is something I usually don't do. I develop the entire area as a whole. Just not this time.

An exercise to get the right colortone with pastels.

The messy workarea,  appeals a lot. A reminiscent of the productive day!

Day 4 to 8 (Aug 4 - 8): Summary of the last week

As the weekend approaches, it seems somewhat 

The week has passed and there are signs of progress. Its admittedly slow but acceptable.

Reading, photoshoots, painting, no-shows, research, and some unplanned stuff - the week was thoroughly packed and productive.

For the next week:

1. There will be one full and final portrait ready
2. Frame it
3. Finish the last chapter of the book that I am reading
4. Fill those pending forms
5. Order that golden paint, I had been meaning since forever

More next week.

Happy weekend!

Aug 1: Day 3

The day can be summed up in a picture log:

 As it all begins. With a blank canvas:

The tools of the choice. Some stay, some go:

The other medium is considered as well:

Then compared to what other stuff might work:

After some choices, some selections are made and this is what the palette looks like:

And after a while, a face starts to emerge. This angle of the face is a bit challenge, but we will judge after it is finished. This is after first hour:

Finished painting will be shared soon.

July 31: Day 2

Some things are just too hard to miss. One such thing was this door. Look closely.

There seems to be a story to be told. The colors are too distracting for the motivation to unlock what the door is hiding behind. But there is more just on the outside.

Simple construction of the door confirms the age of the material, which probably goes all the way back to say one hundred years. The wall against it, appears to be constructed fairly recently compared to the door. The arch at the top of the entryway is covering the  corners of the rectangular doors that would otherwise have matched to the opening like a congruous shape. Its somewhat hinders the view, thus, creating a slight disturbance in the harmony and grandeur of this otherwise magnificent piece.

Barring that, there is an interesting shape play between those tiny squares and the scallops at the bottom. All matchy-matchy. Yet so different. The ones above are are sharp, hard and dominantly standing stacked up as if to rudely register dominance over what neatly lies under a meek blue horizontal line in a complete surrender. Makes look the door almost king-like.

Day 2:

Some preparation is underway. A recent doctor's visit slowed the process but not for long. More tomorrow!

Drapery : Some Warm-up

A purely academical way to acquaint ourself to the details of the folds, creases and shadow-play on the fabric.

A practice work on paper using pencil. Artificial lighting. The fabric is placed on edge of the board with another corner pinned back on the board surface.

Having to use just one color, forces to separate the different shades and hence add the depth.

New Series: Friends

I am finally back from my trip and after some unpacking and likes, its time to get back to work.

This journal entry shall keep track of the work being done for the forthcoming series Friends.

The first of the ideas was to record everyday progress in a log to keep things under order and etch out a clear direction for what's to come. So, here's to very first entry:

Day 1:

I spoke to potential models about their availability and sorting out the schedule clashes. Overall, I am happy at the response and the shared enthusiasm. 

I have been meaning to keep the medium/size consistent for the series, but I am now questioning this decision as to is it necessary? Will surely get back at this as we move on.

Project : Friends

Thank you friends!

As my prior ideas about arts generated a positive vibe I would like to announce the new and officially the first project of this kind where the paintings will be created as a part of series. For this series, I would like to have you as a model.

Its an enrichment project  and a learning opportunity for me as a new artist.


Call for models

For this project you are all invited to participate as a model.
Anyone in  the range of 14 - 50 can take part. 
The portraits will be painted from your photos that I will take. So, you don't have to sit for the paintings.

The photoshoot would be 20 to 40 minutes long, followed by a get-to-know session. It would include a small introduction and discussion about details of the process. We will discuss your likes, dislikes, favorite color, and stuff like that. A mini interview, if you like.
Based on this session, I will paint your portrait.

You don't have to be present for painting part. But you can always check on the progress. In fact, I will regularly update you on the progress.


This project will begin towards the end of July or beginning of August and would continue until around Christmas/ New Year.

I will hand out more information and other details as a followup and would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

For the exhibition purposes, your personal information will not be revealed. 


About me:

I am a beginner artist trying to make a difference with my love of portraiture.
For my sample work please visit this post.

I work from my home-studio based out of Bay Area. So, if you are local  you can visit when you like!



Project Info:

This series Friends will be created for an exhibition.

It will be a collection of portrait paintings created around a theme.


The portraits will be painted from photographs selected from the ones that I would take. Model can bring  the pictures of their liking. If you are not available for the picture shoots but would like to participate, we can set up a phone call where we can discuss how you may have your own pictures taken and sent over for the painted portraits.

During photoshoot, I will try to capture the personality as a whole. Likes, dislikes, favorite color, special interests, hobbies, and any other information that you'd like to share. If we have already met, the photoshoot time would be really short.

I am planning to paint over 20 portraits but only 12- 14 will make the final cut for the exhibition.

The painted portraits will be used for the purpose of art enrichment such as exhibition and will be available for sale after that.


Remuneration

Any prints of the portraits will be made available to the model free of cost.
The model can buy their original portrait after it's been exhibited.
It is a volunteering  opportunity for the art project.


For more information:

Leave a comment below, or
comment or PM me at my facebook page or 
mail me at bhavnamisra@yahoo.com


Thanks for reading. I hope to hear from you soon!

-Bhavna

Faces - Portraits of Women

Here are some of the samples I picked for the variety in the medium. Oil, pastel, canvas, paper, and their combination.

 

Woman in pink

Oil on canvas, 12" x 14"

 

Clair

Oil and hard pastel on canvas, 12" x 14"

 

Farshid

Oil on canva paper, 12" x 15"

 Self Portrait

Pastel on paper, 18" X  24.5"

Preparing for the trip

Untitled

24 x 12 (Approx.) Oil on canvas

(Retouched with pastels)

Preparation is the key to everything done well. Be it the preparation of  upcoming exam, a show, a party or anything of that nature. Planning and preparing in a timely manner makes the big task break it into smaller ones and thus can be taken care of rather easily. It helps you see the whole project as a series of smaller assignments and help you further reprioritize the remaining tasks.

Does it guarantee success? Well, there are no guarantees in life, so, the simple answer is, no. But we can agree that it's one of the influential tool to tilt the chances in the favor of success.

So, having that in mind, I will like to share that, I have been busy preparing for the upcoming trips. I hope things will be as we plan and prepare for. But I have to admit the hovering anxiety of the unknown is somewhat daunting. These are two very different trips. One is of a real trip like trip. Where you pack your bags and leave. And the second one is more in the alleys of my mind.

Now that's where the hard part is. When the journey exist in the mind, planning becomes somewhat confusing. How, what, where, and when? After a long and hard thought, I chose to what I always like to do. Talk it out!

So here it is. This year, I am going back to work as a full time artist. Soon after my abovesaid trip.

Inspired!

You are looking for some ideas. Have a vague sense of what you want but not with certainty.  There cannot be anything more torturous to your keep-everything-organized personality than this mish-mash of leaving and landing ideas.

But on the same note - when light shines on the right ones, like a spotlight following a series of dancers leading to the wholeness of the storytelling in a play - is a delightful, satisfying treat.

I thank to people who are smart and sharing. They have no idea how they help making this a better place.

Just Blogging Away

In our Physics class, we had a whole chapter dedicated to achieving perpetual machine. It is that dream thing that doesn't exist!

Basically, this is how the theory goes. You work on a machine and machine does something for you in return. Like a bike. You rotate the paddle and bike moves forward. Its this effort of yours that makes the machine work for you. Good enough. We should be happy about it. But are we? Ever?

We learnt that the machine always gives back lesser than we gave it. That's not right. We are humans, for crying out loud. We are never happy with what we have.

We want more. To get more is the aim. Wait, that's not it. The real aim is, to get everything without having to give. No, really.

And that's leads to our fantasy of a perpetual machine. A machine that keeps giving once you hit start button, without asking anything in return.

Pause. (A long one).

We humans want everything to be a perpetual machine. I think we need to take a moment to think about this arrogant attitude. "We oughtta have it 'cuz we deserve it!" won't help. It pops up everywhere. Respect, dedication, love, passion, compassion, and all of those intangible feelings that actually make things worthwhile cannot be imposed or asked back in return.

You just have to give. With an open heart. If not for yourself, for others. Just like that. Life is not a perpetual machine, its more than that, but you have to make the first move.

Day 30 (Thursday): Self Portrait

I made my portrait in profile. Its going good.

With this, I finished my thirty day marathon! And yes, this made me learn a lot which I will share in a separate blog post.

Thanks for reading and sending your feedback.

Day 29 (Wednesday): Some Drawing with Pen on Paper

I shopped for some supplies for the work. In the meantime, I read, wrote and drew some.

Day 28 (Tuesday): Head Study in Oil

And this was one of those not so right days! Try as much as you like, but it won't happen.

So I painted everything red. No really. And it helped.

And look, its 28th day. Could be 29th, not sure, I don't think I did a great job keeping this log accurate, but either way, now that its either, it makes me content to accept the 30 day rule.  Habit forming or not, it definitely helps putting things into a perspective of discipline, hard work, and consistency.

Looking forward to tomorrow for new beginnings!

Day 27 (Monday): Another Head Study in Oil

Okay, this was the right day. 10 minutes and bam! No more, no less.

Day 26 (Friday): Head study in oil

After a few earlier attempts, I fixed few distractions.

Taking up all the available space for the placement of head.   

Its a real hard one for me.  So, I covered part of the canvas leaving work space peeking through a waste-paper frame. Problem solved. Once reached to the corners, I removed this temporary paper-frame and voila, I have a blank border available and the main subject doesn't seem to confined within. 

Mood can dictate a lot. 

So can the weather. So, be prepared for this. 

Some days are oil days, others are pastel

Just deal with it.

Right days versus not so right ones

There is nothing a deep breath can't fix.

Day 25 (Thursday): Oil Portrait Started

I have observed some amazing artists work on portraits. They have their own styles, techniques, and rhythm. But they have one thing in common. It is this - the face on the canvas starts to show the likeness right from the beginning. You can tell its going to look right.

I feel its very empowering. Knowing you are going in the right direction boosts your confidence, helps you create better and ultimately earns you respect as an artist. That's what we strive for - being respected by your peers.

That's it for today. More tomorrow.

 

Day 24 (Wednesday): My Princess II Finished

Worked on the portrait started yesterday and practiced getting it finished in limited strokes. I have come to realize that :

1. Its the first mindful stroke that matters. Dabbling on an area multiple times just kills the thrill of painting.
2. Painting is more about enjoying the process. So go slow. It will show up in the painting if you rush!
3. You know it when you get it right. There is no other gauge for the  good work.
4. Before you discard, review critically. Most times, a small change can alter the outcome.

For tomorrow:

Portrait in oil.

Day 23 (Tuesday): New Portrait in Pastel (Untitled)

I have some good news and some bad one. Bad one first. I almost ran out of my pastels. Mostly the ones used for face. Pinks, reds, oranges and greens.

Good news - I will get new ones! I know. Its what a child feels like when going to a toystore.

I think I have to get back to the studio and will post some more soon. And hopefully with pictures.

Baby Hat

I would love to have a written pattern if anyone likes.