Audrey

Audrey
Oil on masonite, 6x6

I think Audrey Hepburn was one of the most beautiful women.  She had an inner beauty that simply radiated.  Using one of the primed panels from yesterday, I am using mainly my brushes to paint her likeness.  This was a conscious choice, it evolved as I painted.  The soft planes of her face did not call for the harsh lines of the palette knife.  I did use the knife and catalyst, but reservedly, even blending some of those strokes out with a brush.  I used one of my new brushes from myartspace.com, and it worked like a charm.  Since I am working in black, it did stain the bristles.  This doesn’t worry me, I do buy my brushes to work the heck out of them!  I’ve only used black and white here, no other tints.  I just let my heart guide me in these matters, no use to try to think it out, I’m using the right side of my brain here, not the left!  Painting number 1150 in 1150 days.

Norma Jean

Norma Jean
Oil on masonite, 6x6

This was the demo in painting class today, an oil painting in black and white of a young Marilyn Monroe.  To gain the likeness, I used a brush to mark out the features.  Next, I painted in the background and masses, using the largest brush possible.  The features gave me a little trouble - Marilyn was not cooperating!  As with all portrait work, I pushed the paint a little here and pulled it there, until I was happy.  I then went in with some thick, juicy paint and my knives and catalyst, making marks wherever the whim took me. I chose black and white, but I am now wondering how cool a color version might be..... This painting took brushes, knives and a catalyst to complete and is my 1147th painting in as many days.