REFLECTING ORANGE

8"X8"

OIL ON CANVAS BOARD

Another attempt at painting our granddaughter. I loved the orange reflections on her face from the  dress. The Nancy Crookston workshop has peaked my interest in portraits again.

PORTRAIT STUDY

I talked in my last post about going to a workshop in Easton, Md.to study with Nancy Crookston. I also mentioned that in three days with a model I did not actually finish a painting. This is one of the paintings. Our model had beautiful auburn hair that was very long and curly, also difficult to paint. I have to admit that it had been so long since I had painted from a model, that I just stood there for the longest time before I started drawing. I kept looking back and forth from the model to my blank canvas, not knowing where to start. I have decided to join a life drawing group again to regain my skills.

WORKSHOP IN EASTON, MD

I recently took a workshop with Nancy Crookston in Easton, MD. This is a photo of part of our group painting a model in shade. Not an easy task since the light areas are cool and the shadows are warm. The painting on the lower right is Nancy's. She watched the rest of us struggle and decided to start a painting so we could see what she was trying to get across. The light blue in the background of her painting is the color she uses to tone every canvas and she also does the drawing in blue. I didn't actually finish a painting in four days of work but I learned a lot. First and foremost I learned that I have let my drawing get sloppy and have vowed to draw everyday if possible. Nancy carries a sketch book with her everywhere and sketches everyday. She is so confident in her drawing that she draws in ink. She passed a few of her books around for us to see and they were very inspiring. My profs also told us to draw everyday as well, but I haven't been doing that for a long time. One of the great things about Nancy is that she absolutely loves painting and her enthusiasm rubs off on the students. I came home inspired to do more artwork.