This exercise is from Ivy Newport's 2018 class called, "Between Shadow and Light" (see sidebar for link) and, again, it's been so long since I've looked at it, that I don't remember what all is involved, but it involved sketching portraits on very large paper and trying different media, and the final exercise, I think, is a portrait on canvas. The exercises are all timed, so it all has to be done quickly, without too much time to think!
Again, I may, or may not, have followed her instructions exactly! I tend to do my own thing, once I get started!
For this exercise, I used an 18" x 24" mixed media paper, gesso, charcoal pencil, inktense pencils (could only use four colors), Lyra watersoluble pencils (same four colors), water, and a timer. I used an old photo of a beloved cousin for reference. Of course, these look nothing like her. She was beautiful, and I lost her four months before I lost my mom in 2017. I wasn't really trying for a likeness though.
Multiple faces using the same reference and the basic sketch was done in maybe ten minutes. The Girls were first done in charcoal pencil, then I used white gesso to paint and mix with the charcoal, which I forgot to take a picture of. I then put another layer of charcoal and inktense pencils with water and gesso over this layer (no picture), then added still another layer of Lyra watersoluble pencil, inktense pencils, white gesso, and water over that layer, trying to make it look better. I failed. (Well, I didn't really fail. I learned what doesn't work!)
I went over the whole thing again with my charcoal pencil and white gesso, losing all but a slight tint of color. I know, the faces are all wonky, but I was learning a process with layers here. You would never know they are all the same person, would you?!
Then I went over them again with the charcoal and added color back in with inktense pencils and water, and this is where they've been for over a year. Not pretty! But it's a practice, so it doesn't have to be. Right?
Maybe, I will get back to it at some point, but if I don't, I learned from it, and that's the important part! Plus, it was fun! I just got involved in too many classes at once and life threw some curve balls at us, and these unfinished pieces and classes are patiently waiting for me to come back to them, when I'm ready.
I have been through a lot and learned a lot since I left all these works in progress, so when I do get back to them, it will be a different me than I was at that time, and I will bring a new perspective and new experiences with me to incorporate into the finished portraits. I just thought of that, but it's true! I'm not the same person I was a couple of years ago, and I see things in a different way now, partly because I'm older (just turned 70) and my circumstances have changed, so that will be reflected in any creative projects I do now, I'm sure.
That's ok! As long as I can keep trying, I'll be happy! Don't be afraid to try whatever you think you would enjoy doing. You don't have to do stuff perfectly to enjoy doing it! I know someone already said that, but it's true! 😀
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