Andy Warhol: Torn-Paper Collage

How about something totally different and a little abstract? This is the last week of class in Misty Mawn's Portrait workshop and we are supposed to be working on self-portraits. I haven't worked up the nerve for that yet. But another lesson that I have been wanting to try was the collaged portrait.

One of my all-time favorite artists is Andy Warhol. I'm a little obsessed with him right now and have been reading everything I can find about him. I decided to do a torn-paper collage of him using some of my CitraSolv background papers. I tore a few different sheets into strips and started piecing together the collage onto a 9 x 12 canvas.

Here is the original portrait that I used as a model:

It's supposed to have an abstract look to it and mine is a little more abstract than I would like. But I have been wanting to try this lesson and now I've done it. I will be doing more of these. They are a little messy...all of those strips of paper and gel medium gets a little sticky.

Then you just use your graphite pencil to bring out some details. You can go as realistic or abstract as you'd like. I would like to try a more realistic one at some point. I have a lot of colors in my CitraSolv papers and could probably do a color version of something. I think it would be fun to try.

There are still a few lessons that I haven't been able to get a satisfactory piece out of and I'm working on those this week as well as starting the self-portrait. I think I'll use one of the older photos of myself. I don't have many that I like so it's hard to find something.

So that is what's on the agenda this week. Wrapping up the lessons I need to finish and then ending with the self-portrait assignments. We shall see what comes of it...

Doing The Happy Dance

Some days I just feel like this! ;) I used another CitraSolv background for this top digital piece. Then added a couple of fun images and some little embellishments. I call it, "Dance". That's how I feel when I finish another painting, too. I have to say that I will probably never put away my Shiva Paintstiks. They are my new best friend.

I finished another painting in Misty Mawn's Portrait Class. Here it is set into a digital background. I call this one, "After The Storm".

And here is the original painting:

I worked very hard on her. It took a few days to do just the hair! But I was very happy with it when I finished. I painted each of her dreadlocks individually using the Paintstiks and a couple of packages of blending stumps. The blending stumps are really handy for painting small areas. I could use a paintbrush but then I'd have to clean the oil out of it. So, instead I find it easier to just use up packages of blending stumps and tortillons.

This is the final week of class and that makes me sad. I've loved this class! I hope she has another one soon. Do you know she even puts up playlists of songs for us to listen to while we work on each lesson? How cool is that! Definitely one of the best classes I've ever taken.

For this last week we are working on self portraits; not my favorite subject to paint! So, I'm digging in my archives for any halfway decent photo of me that I can use. Yes, I'm procrastinating for this lesson. But I'll get it started within the next couple of days.

There are still a few lessons that I want to at least produce something that I can show. My love affair with the Shiva's will have to go on hold while I try a few more of the other media she teaches. Stay tuned...

From One Sketch

Here is another painting I finished from Misty Mawn's Portrait Class. This one combines three media: Dr. Ph. Martin's inks, acrylic paint and Shiva Paint Stiks. I love the effects of combining them all together. This was done on hot press watercolor paper.

Next, I scanned the painting into Photoshop and did a few manipulations with layers and textures. This version is called, "Sad Eyes". I placed the painting onto a CitraSolv background and at the exact spot where I pasted it, I noticed a tear shape under one eye. It is just an ink spot on the background but I liked it.

All of these pieces I'm posting today came from this original graphite sketch:

I knew after I drew this one that I would be using it again and again. Here is another digital piece called, "She Talks To Angels" inspired by the song of the same name by The Black Crowes.

And, for a lighter mood, I made this one called, "Dreamer of Dreams".

Between all of the CitraSolv backgrounds I'm making and the paintings, sketches, etc. from Misty's class I am loving all of the options I now have for adding my own elements to my art. More paintings and some collage are in the works and I'll post them when I finish.

We are expecting a big snow for this weekend. I've got my art supplies and plenty of coffee. I'll be just fine! Stay tuned...

Mixing It All Up

I just finished up week two of Misty Mawn's portrait class. I am so loving this workshop! There are a variety of new (to me) techniques that she teaches in addition to the portrait drawing and painting. This is definitely one of the best classes I have ever taken.

The top piece is a mix of many different things. The girl is my first attempt at painting one of my sketches with oil paint; specifically, Shiva Paintstiks. I then scanned the painting onto one of my CitraSolv backgrounds, added a few digital brushes and a few other layers to get the finished piece. Here is the original oil painting on watercolor paper:

One of the challenges, for me, of working with the paintstiks is getting the colors to blend to achieve the color I want. Lots of trial and error went into a few discarded attempts. Finally I was somewhat happy with this finished one. I love the buttery softness of the paintstiks and once I got a little more familiar with how much to lay down for a base layer, I was very happy with how they blended together.

One thing I found out was the iridescent paintstiks do not blend very well at all for the effect I was wanting to achieve. Of course, all I had when I started out was a set of iridescents. I had to order the regular stiks and then wait for them to arrive before I could try this lesson. Have I mentioned before that I'm impatient?! Anyway, once I had the correct type of paintstiks, they worked beautifully (after much practice). There is still a lot about this piece I don't like but for a first attempt, it'll do.

The lessons using the paintstiks were from the second week of class. The first week, we sketched many different faces with our pencils and practiced shading them. I can never get enough instruction on the nuances of shading. I took one of my favorite sketches and put her into another CitraSolv background in this digital piece:

Here was my original sketch:

So we are now entering our third week of class and the videos were just posted. I watched them all this morning and am excited about yet another group of new techniques to mix with our paintings. Stay tuned for more to come.