blue portraits

the shapes and brushstrokes and blueness of these paintings. I have been doing prep sketches for my paintings in preparation for the spring collection that I'll present in September of this year. I'm finding these colors are  good start.

Self Portrait Updated

Here is an updated version since this morning, that's all for today- It will sit for a while and I'll pick it up again when I have an idea about what is next. Maybe there is too much ambiguity. But honestly, a lot of that comes from the fact that I only have two paintbrushes, one .75" wide and the other about 1.25" wide. I wonder what would happen if I started back in with a more precise tool (for right now that is my sharpie). I like the speed of painting with thick brushes, and I like the texture they can create- but it is true that I could get into some really interesting depth and detail with a little experimentation using a smaller brush. Hmmm...

Self Portrait in Progress

Trying to look away I guess- there is supposed to be a kind of tension pulling up from the corner that I haven't really achieved- as if pulling back into the painting- trying to figure out what ground would help with that effect, as well. Something that pops to the foreground, and leaves the forehead seemingly further into the picture plane. I am going back in with Sharpie once the paint dries, because I find that the graphic element helps me re-frame and re-position my next moves. I have thus far totally ignored the body position as well, and that could be a cool way to play with the depth- especially messing with the immediate foreground starting from the bottom right.