Skip to main content

Work in progress...

I would like to share my progress -it's going slow... I am not a portrait expert but I love portraits and like to tackle areas where I can improve, to avoid being bogged in conformity. I feel I can approach this much like I do a still life or city scene. It's always shapes, hues, light and trying to get a likeness, hopefully.  I think the main reason why people shy away from portraits is the fear that it won't look anything like the person you are painting. I painted a portrait of my daughter last year and most of my feedback was just that, it looks nothing like her. This is wonderful practice because this image is just an image. I don't have to show this painting to the family and get the "it doesn't look anything like her" bit. It's a great way to practice portrait painting!

I'm also having trouble with either the paint or the paper. I'm not sure which. It's not letting me scrape anything off, the paint is just stuck to the paper (Strathmore cold press by the way).

Hope to have finished this by tomorrow!
work in progress

Labels:

Comments

  1. Tito20 February 2013 at 13:43

    Hi Celia, this portrait is already beautiful before it is finished, a great job indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wendy Barrett20 February 2013 at 14:17

    This is coming along beautifully Celia!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Paul Shenton20 February 2013 at 17:43

    Looking good Sir and a personally I think human form is the hardest thing to portray

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jane21 February 2013 at 00:38

    I don't know if this looks anything like the model, but the portrait is VERY good , very sweet and great colors. I love to do portraits,too, and unless it is someone I know, I don't really care if it looks like the model, I just try to make a good portrait , which to means with the right proportions.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jane21 February 2013 at 00:40

    ...Sorry, what I meant was that to me it means the right proportions....writing too fast :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco21 February 2013 at 09:27

      Thanks Jane, getting the right porportions is key and I should have mentioned that. Your portraits are top notch and appreciate having your feedback!

      Delete
  6. Debbie Nolan21 February 2013 at 03:50

    Dear Celia I think this is wonderful. Portraits are scary to me because of trying to capture an exact likeness - love your thought about the practice and not to show it to the family. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco21 February 2013 at 09:35

      Thanks Debbie, I feel the same way and finally found a good method about getting over this fear. I hope it will help you to do some portraits of your own or maybe a portrait of your new adorable puppy?

      Delete
  7. Celia Blanco21 February 2013 at 07:29

    Thank you for your words of encouragement!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

African Violets

 African violets sketchbook page I painted this sketch slowly, over a few day's time.  I use my sketchbook to experiment towards improving my skills although I seem to always find myself in a hurry to finish the sketches. It took my African Violets over two years to bloom, I felt compelled to capture this achievement! The flu is making the rounds around my household once more, I hope everyone else is well!
50 comments
Read more

Happy 2015!!

 Clementine watercolor on paper  20x14 cm.   I am very excited to start off the new year because of the opportunity to focus on what lies ahead. My  goals for the coming months include many positive wishes!  I have written out a physical list for the first time in my sketchbook  to be able to draw a balance at the end. My first painting of the year is a clementine. The contrasting colors and the long shapes of the leaves  are always fun to paint; the fruit's taste is definitively delicious and brightens the dreary winter. I wish all of you a joyful, creative year! Happy 2015!
56 comments
Read more

Pansies

 Pansies with Lemon  watercolor on cold pressed Daler Rowney paper  10" x 10" / 25 x 25 cm.  Available I wished to paint the happy faces of the pansies I planted earlier in the fall. They are hardy plants, lasting through the winter on my balcony. Soon I will have to pull them out and replace them with petunias or begonias, but not for another month. I love the different shades of purple and had fun mixing my own. I hope everyone is having a nice week!
45 comments
Read more