Day Three of 30 Paintings in 30 Days – Another Portrait

Going For It & Improvising

Sometimes success is showing up and going for it. That’s how today’s post feels.

This is another portrait improvisation. I try to start and finish in one sitting, which is not my usual approach. For me, this is a test of wits. I have to be able to think on my feet rather than mull over and ponder my next move.

I Am Not Amused

Imposing Limits to Create Mood

With today’s piece, I limited color choice to four: a violet, blue, orange and yellow. Blue and orange were my main pair. I wanted to see how they influenced mood. The resulting mood looks muted to me, perhaps “serious”.

Cubist Inspired Portrait

What I like to borrow from the Cubist Art movement is the double portrait. I am inspired by Henri Lauren’s drawings for his sculptures, too.

You might have noticed that these last three portraits have something in common. I use the same big lines that divide the paper into two shapes and start to define the portrait. I draw from memory, the “go for it”. I respond to each line. Then add paint, and voila, it’s done!

What I like to see is how simple variations alter the expression and create meaning.

Meaning?

But what does it MEAN? What is the story?

She is a proper lady. She is not amused by what? Not sure! Maybe, the expression I gave her?

One of my favorite things to do is to see how I create expression with the simplest of shapes, like circles, squiggles and boxes.  In this case, by making the almond shaped mouth small, it makes her look like her lips are pursed. She’s not amused!

Maybe, she’s having a bad hair day; can’t figure out if she should have straight hair or wavy.

Thank you and on to Day 4 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

 

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