Just a Blob ? Look again!

I See Faces

 I often describe how at the end of each painting session I like to paint something just for fun to unwind. I often do this at the end of my workshops as well. If there is time and admittedly if I am not too exhausted! Today I looked at the colours left on my palette from painting my series of owls in watercolour. I placed a little "blob" of this colour on a scrap of paper to test it for freshness. It looked pretty good and I knew I had the right shade for creating feather work in the morning on a particular painting that is a work in progress. But as the blob started to dry a face appeared. Okay, maybe I am nuts but I could see the beginning of a face. Honestly!  As this paper is aimed at the bin, I have nothing to lose. Painting faces this way used to be regular way of working for me. In fact my portraits like created like this became so popular when I lived in Dubai and became collectible . They also sold very well in galleries who represented me.

But back to today's blob! Seen below. Can you see a face? Look again if you can't.

 

 Can you see a profile view of a face in this blob of colour?

To show you how I see the profile view of a face I have added darks to the "blob"

Now look at the second image below and see if you can see a face appearing.

 A face is definitely appearing now in the first "blob" of colour.

Maybe my workshops in New Orleans next year are playing on my mind because a jazz player leapt into my mind. Okay so there is no musical instrument yet but that missing item can be solved as a problem by adding hints of it!

Can you see a face in the drying shape seen below now?

 Jazz player appearing in the blob shape of colour. I love it when this happens!

 There is now a problem. I have never seen a boring jazz player that just simply stands still while playing in a band. I needed movement so some additional brushwork could make this musician leap to life a little more.

See my image below.

Life, energy and movement in my appearing jazz musician

This painting took me only a few minutes and when this wash is dry I intend to add a few details to complete my work but I love the freshness and energy in the unfinished painting.  Seen above.

I loved adding the hand, imagining the fingers moving, controlling the sounds being played.

What a great way to close my day.

Now go back and look at the first " blob" of colour in this blog post and see if your imagination can work out how I saw the face appearing at that stage.

But even more excitingly. Why not paint a few blobs of your own and turn them into animals, flowers or people. Have fun and improve your art.

And if you are able, join me in New Orleans to have a go at following my above exercise! Its easier with a real demonstration to follow.

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For information on my exciting New Orleans workshops in 2018 please email me on jeanhaines@hotmail.com

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Five Minute Study : Portrait

Portrait on my easel from a five minute exercise

The market scene figures have led me back to a favourite subject of mine as portraits seem to have taken over my studio this week.

Each evening before I close my my painting session I take a piece of paper or two and paint faces. Sometimes I have photographs to work from. Sometimes I paint merely from my imagination as with this study. So if this looks like anyone you know it is purely accidental!

Painting exercises such as this each day is a brilliant way to have fun moving brushes but also increases awareness of colour placement for effects. Here I worked with a very limited palette and the outcome is quite pleasing.

After painting so many female faces this week I thought a good looking guy would be nice to add to the collection. Just for a change!

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Facing Faces

Faces from my Market Scene Characters

Whilst working on my colourful market scenes some of my characters are quickly becoming firm favourites to paint. Each time I add a new figure to a composition their head dress or clothing may change as does their facial expressions.

These are reminding me of my time living in Dubai when I used to paint faces regularly for local galleries. These small studies became really popular at the time.

Taking time out at the end of my painting session today I worked on a few small pieces of paper to bring each market scene character to life  via a few simple brushstrokes and placement of colour.

Tomorrow is going to be a day for faces and even more market scenes.

How wonderful to always have something new to look forward to. Although in this case I am going back to my old friends of yesteryear!

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