Trying different materials

After speaking with a few tutors I decided to push myself and mix up my studio practice by creating a portrait with different materials. I began using string and burlap canvas.

I also experimented with the colours of the string to highlight and shadow the features of the face. I had fun creating this piece but it was so time consuming that I moved on to something much quicker.

After doing some quick sketches in my small sketchbook inspired by Elly Smallwood I then made some bigger sketches that I worked off of to create portraits on one of the 5x4 foot canvases I made. These sketches were done in coloured chalk which I thought were really effective rather than just using charcoal.

Once I was happy with my ideas I moved from my sketch book and onto canvas. However I used the same materials on the primed canvas just to see how it would turn out once applied. I was really pleased with the outcome of the chalk on the canvas and the fallout of the chalk that drew the eye down the canvas. Eventually I added thick oil paints to create texture on the face. I then repeated this with a different palette, again just to experiment with colours and ideas and pull myself out of my comfort zone with my studio practice.

This collection of images shows my process and how I built up the layers of oil paint on the first face. Initially I went for the peachy skin colour but thought to totally juxtapose the first portrait I would change the palette and use sea greens and deep blues.

I worked loosely on this piece which I don't normally do, and to be honest I really dislike the way I work when my painting looks like this. I know I am supposed to be working faster and trying new things, but now that I have done this I don't want to start another canvas that will be painted in the same way. I think as a compromise I will continue to add faces to this piece and work over the top of the oil and chalk to see how that turns out.