“Inspiration Visits” 6×6 oil on canvas
This is my attempt to put some of my day 7 flowers on a figure. Sometimes for the faces I use a reference photo, usually from pinterest. And sometimes, I just make up the face entirely, which is what I did today.
I don’t usually have an idea about what I want the person to look like, I just start putting eyes where I know they go and let the other features follow. The person looks different every time, and I am always a little surprised by how they come out.
Today’s painting is less soft than my others this month. She has an intensity I really enjoy. I know the flowers and the bird can tend to go in a more sentimental direction, but, in this piece, I think they come across as strong.
This is the first piece this month that I’m not sure is really finished. I may give it another look in a day or two and see if there are some strokes to add. But for now, this is my little day 9 offering. I’d love to know your thoughts.
All my paintings from the month will be available February 3 at the gallery and online February 6.
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Written by Denise Hopkins
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Interesting! During the brief time I drew caricature, I learned to start with the nose. I think the reasoning was that placing the eyes the right space apart would be easier after that. But I’m wondering how different artists go about filling in face shapes now, and why.
That makes sense! I have always started with eyes because I use them to measure everything else– an eye’s length between the eyes, and eye’s length to the start of the nose. An eye’s length from bottom of nose to where the lips meet, etc.