face

January 8, 2013 by Tara 5 Comments

You should know that I am drinking wine while creating this post. Just sayin’.

Wine is also on the list of healing things. Yup. Temporary healing admittedly, but sometimes a plaster is more appropriate than a heart transplant. {And cheaper.}

Also healing: Marianne Williamson’s ‘Letting Go and Becoming’ talks. I have listened to them a bajillion times, and each time I am comforted, amused, interested and reminded {why do some things just not STICK?}.

{pastels and charcoal on acrylic background}

And of course: making art = healing. So far my promise to myself to spend some of each day in the studio is not only proving successful, it’s also making me DO ART! An obvious correlation perhaps, but when I had art supplies on my coffee table I didn’t use them every day. I guess it’s partly the intention and partly because there aren’t any other distractions up there.

This portrait is inspired by someone else’s work, which I’m sorry to say I don’t have a credit for. Didn’t someone say something about imitation being the highest form of flattery? {Personally I think that’s bollocks but it’s useful in this moment.} I’m really happy with how she’s turned out. Pastels: so awesome.

So after an exceptionally shitty day, wine, art and Marianne are pulling me through. Also my mum, who is amazing, and endlessly patient. And you guys, for listening.

Oscar speech and rambling over. Think I’ll get back to my wine.

Filed Under: portraits, sketchbook Tagged With: face, pastels, portrait, sketchbook

July 14, 2012 by Tara 3 Comments

None of these are really rocking my world but it seems process is more important than end result as I learn the ways of pen and ink, and watercolour too, although I don’t think we will ever be BFFs.

A face drawn with my trusty feather is always easy, quick and satisfying, even if the end result creeps me out. Kind of like McDonalds.

I’m still not a flower person; I didn’t even enjoy the process of this one much. {Apart from the lavender.}

Another peacock! I am seeing them everywhere lately, not to mention wanting to draw them all the time. I looked up the meaning and apparently the peacock is a symbol of integrity and the beauty we can achieve when we endeavour to show our true colours, amongst other things.

After a lifetime of hiding my true colours to the point of not knowing what they actually are, this is certainly a time of discovery for me. My colours are much stronger and bolder than I could have ever imagined. Maybe I do have a bit of peacock in me, as D keeps telling me! It’s funny isn’t it how a person’s blog gives an impression of who they are, but it is limited and one dimensional, either by design or because that is the nature of the online world; I have no idea what kind of an image I present to you, but I can guarantee you don’t get a 360 view! Lately I’m realising that I don’t have the full 360 yet either.

Filed Under: art development, creativity, drawing, painting on paper Tagged With: drawing, face, flowers, peacock, pen and ink, watercolours

March 24, 2012 by Tara 9 Comments

This lady appeared on Thursday. She is heading in the direction of the faces in my head I talked about yesterday. In the interests of full disclosure I am including the image that inspired her; as you will see it’s pretty similar. I’ve loved the Maria Pace Wynters painting below for ages ~ colours, composition, style, elements ~ and wanted to understand with my own hand how to capture that kind of loose but powerful image. I didn’t set out to copy it as such, but in the end I did use her painting to inform how and where I put colour down, mainly for the face.

So here is Maria Pace Wynters’ visual feast, titled ‘The Spanish Poppy’:

And here is a step by step of my version, which I’ve called ‘Drama Queen’ as it just popped into my head and seemed fitting:

I taped some of my lovely new A3 360gsm paper to my desk and started with a rough sketch.

I used the principle I saw on the Agnes-Cecile video of working from light to dark; it makes total sense and puts certain paintings I’ve done in the past into a new perspective {ie. ohhhhhh, so THAT’S why it didn’t work!}! I realise this is probably one of those fundamentals of painting that just passed me by…

I had totally forgotten how liberating painting on paper is; psychologically I can be freer because it’s not as ‘important’ as a canvas. And while I’m trying out new things it allows me to do so without feeling they must all be perfect. That, people, is progress. Not to mention that when you take the pressure off, lo! The paintings seem to come out better!

I did have to go back in and completely redo her eyes; she was so cross eyed! I think it’s better now but the painting doesn’t seem to photograph as well as it looks in actual real life.

Anyway, here she is:

I may add some further details but I’m happy with her as she is for now. Very happy actually. Yay.

Filed Under: acrylic painting, art development, painting on paper, portraits, process Tagged With: drama queen, face, maria pace wynters, painting on paper, portrait, turquoise

October 8, 2011 by Tara 4 Comments

Acrylics on paper

59 x 42cm

Filed Under: intuitive painting, painting, painting on paper, paintings Tagged With: face, painting, paintings on paper

October 7, 2011 by Tara 3 Comments

There are so many words, out there in the world, and in my head. And none I really want to say, or hear, or hear myself saying. I’m shifting and growing and it’s uncomfortable and unpredictable. I have a feeling of wanting to tear my skin off with the antsiness and the not knowing of it all; a good metaphor really as I am most likely shedding another layer. The only thing that calms me and brings me any sense of peace and joy is the sea, so I spend most of my hours there and will do until I’m, well, whatever it is I’m going to be next.

And if any or all of this sounds negative, none of it is.

Filed Under: drawing, journey, portraits, sketchbook, sketches Tagged With: discomfort, face, growth, portrait, sketchbook