Lately I have been letting the days slide by without posting current sketches and paintings. I have been busy with creating art, and similar to February a lot has been scraped down because of the various experiments not really working out. One of the new things I am experimenting with is really thick burlap-like canvas. The canvas grain is really heavy, it uses a lot of paint and wears brushes down some, but I believe it has amazing potential for being very expressive once it is mastered. Recently while at the National Gallery of Art I noticed that a Velasquez portrait was painted on this rough type of canvas and as expected it was wonderful. This and analyzing some paintings by Claudio Bravo (who also uses this type of canvas at times) inspired me to jump in and only use this canvas during my figure painting class this term. I figure nine weeks of classes and completing the homework on this stuff will provide sufficent time to get a hang of it.
{detail of the canvas and the wonderful "holes" it leaves}
Also in the spirit of branching out and trying new things, tomorrow is the first day of the National Portrait Society Conference and I will be attending all four days! I am so excited to see all the demonstrations and learn as much as possible. A good friend is coming to town to attend it as well. If you are planning on attending I hope to see you there! Please let me know by leaving a comment.
Below are two 1-1/2 hours figure studies completed on the rough canvas. It is really fun experimenting with it, and I find right now that geometric shapes look really interesting on it.
{completed 13 April 2010}
{completed 20 April 2010}
Good night, Liz
7 comments:
Oh, yeah! The texture is great. I love the interesting way the paint is laid down, too, with suggestions of the layer underneath. I think you are really on to something interesting, here, Liz.
Have fun at your conference, and DO keep us up to date with your work. It is cool!
Liz- These are fantastic...can't wait to see more!
Thanks Elizabeth and Garth! I am looking forward to working more with this stuff.
I just got back from the first day of the conference, it was already amazing. I will need to take pictures tomorrow, I forgot tonight...
I like what you're doing with the rough canvas. I've always been attracted to the grain of a canvas showing through in a painting, it can lend such a great feeling of mood. Can't wait to see more of these!
Thanks Kerri! I think the grain of the canvas really attracts attention.
Man...so awesome, truly. Love these. Really love the dark blue in the face...
Where do you live, that you can take these Liberace classes and such?
Hi Jala :)
I am in northern Virginia and Robert teaches at the local art league, along with other great artists like Danni Dawson and Rick Weaver.
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