Girl No. 2

Girl No. 2 — collage, acrylic, and gouache.

While leafing through an old magazine I found — in my collage box, which features a myriad of "stuff" — a photo of a woman who intrigued me. She seemed like a thinker so I gave her a direct gaze; the wind was blowing outside (still is); my fireplace came on (only happens on cold, cold days). It felt like winter to me.

Early this morning, I did a quick sketch of the parts I liked, then worked on value studies (several) and selected and used the one I liked best.

I sifted through paintings that were/are not my favorite and tore off pieces featuring the colors I liked and needed and glued them in place.

My second collage. I'm loving the process and am learning a lot.

Collage a day keeps comfort at bay

Every so often, I like to bump myself out of my comfort zone. This week, my aim is to do one collage (small) each day.

"She" (above) does not yet have a title. It would be fun to hear from blog followers and art lovers.

My beginning and process: On Sunday, I dug out old, failed paintings, which I covered with coats of white gesso (acrylic), then set to dry. My studio floor was covered with gesso-coated paper and boards (yes, I have plenty of non-successful paintings; this was a mere toe dip into the mass).

Yesterday morning, I sorted through other failed paintings and drawings, tore and cut them into pieces, and sorted by value. After I tied on my painting apron, I found a photo of a face that intrigued me, drew a design plan and set to work, placing and gluing papers.

This morning, I placed one more piece of paper on her cheek, and took her photo.

Here she is: my first collage.

Atemis, Hellenic goddess

While preparing to teach my watercolor workshop (People — Heads, Features, & Faces which starts to tomorrow at the Duluth Art Institute), I've done many watercolor studies and color sketches of men and women of all ages.

I love Greek sculpture and while researching, I fell in love with the strength, beauty, and dignity of Artemis, the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity, etc.

"Think of a mother's love for her child while you paint that subject, that is, think of the idea you want to give while you are painting." —Robert Henri.

The Girl, Steps 1 and 2

Color sketch of The Girl

Step 1: I drew a head shape, penciled in eye sockets, tip of nose, and line of mouth. I wet the paper (student grade, purchased for my grandchildren) and dropped in a wash of pale yellow, red, blue, and tipped my paper, adding water to encourage flow and melding of color. After this dried, I wet areas in shadow (light coming from our left, top) and dropped in yellow, then red, then blue.

Step 2: After the shadow shapes dried, I wet the hair area, dropped in yellow, red, blue – letting and helping colors run together. I scraped highlights with my painting knife. Student grade paper does not hold a scrape very well; the area filled in with damp paint. But I like the linear effect. I darkened the eye shapes and mouth, dampened the background and ran in red and blue to create purple.

Next, I will draw and paint The Girl on Arches 140 lb. cold press. My aim will be to paint an entirely new painting.

Lundin Watercolor Portrait Workshop • Heads, Features & Faces

I'm looking forward to teaching the Watercolor Portrait Workshop — Heads, Features, and Faces — at the Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN. The three-day workshop starts this Friday, October 15, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Painters of all levels are welcome to attend. For information, log onto — www.lundinart.com. To register, phone Shannon at the Duluth Art Institute, (218) 723-1310.

The image above is a detail of a color sketch I did earlier today. I used watercolor and gouache. My aim was to paint layers of transparency and translucency, to capture the  woman's gaze, the light in her eyes, the expression of her mouth, the warm and cool tones of her skin.