Final painting session 1, 2, 3, and 4

So I didn't write anything about my first session. I was feeling very confused/discouraged/lost during the first few sessions so maybe its good I didn't write anything because it would have been very whiny.  Anyways, Gail had suggested that I paint in layers, from the background to the foreground, and with so many layers I should start with acrylic paint and move to oil.  So in session 1 I painted in the shadows on the ground and the colored panels in the background.  I was still unsure what kind of techniques I was going to use and how abstract or real I was going to make it.

The next session I decided to test out using artists tape to make a kind of geometric texture in the background.  From this session onward I decided that this whole painting would be entirely experimentation and I would try out different things without caring too much about the outcome.  That's what we're supposed to do right? I think this attitude has helped me stop beating myself up and just see what happens.

SESSION 2:

So here's the result of session 2.  I thought it looked okay, but I wasn't too worried about it because it would be overlapped by the paper figures.  I was considering using the tape technique to each of the figures as I painted, so each would have horizontal stripes missing.. but I didn't end up doing that.

SESSON 3:

So I pretty much forgot about the taping off idea because I wanted to get the ball rolling. I just blocked everything in using acrylic paint.  It was at this point that I knew I couldn't simply re-paint everything in oil paint. It looked pretty dumb as is.  Just a bunch of cartoon weird shapes not realistic but not interesting just dumb.  So I knew I would have to do something drastic. Also the right bottom corner was really empty and boring and unbalanced. 

SESSION 4:
So I started painting at home.  I realized immediately that the lighting was affecting the model completely differently.  I needed a way to combine the two completely different images into one painting.  I also wanted to abstract the image more because the model on its own was stupid looking.   So! I decided to lay down a wider blue tape vertically and evenly across the painting.  Then, using oil paint, I painted the scene with the different lighting and zoomed in differently. Then I removed the tape to reveal the old image underneath.
                                            This is the result: (Picture quality is not very good)

Even if I'm unsure how much I really like this, I definitely know I like it more than it was before. I like that there is a feeling of searching through the layers and that there is still some feeling of depth.

So now where to go from here??
~~~~I was thinking of adding another layer of vertical tape and doing the whole thing over again, so there will be three different images overlapping..
~~~~Or maybe I lay on the tape horizontally?
~~~~The only thing is that now that I am using oil paint it is going to take longer to dry... so I'm unsure if I'll be able to lay down the tape again

Or maybe this whole thing looks really dumb and I should throw it out the window! 

I'll just see how dry it is by Sunday and make decisions from there.

slightly better picture:

FINAL PAINTING! session 1

Studies #3 and #4

I did these two studies in class today with oil paint. 
      The first one I focused on the shadows cast on the floor, and I opted to only include the green shape and none of the others. I actually like it more in this photo than I did in real life.  I liked the contrast of warm and cool shadows and I tried out using bold brush strokes instead of subtle shifts in color.  I have mixed feelings toward the result. I'm still trying to find the place between abstract and rendered where I want to be.  I think I have realized that I will need to include the floor and the shadows or else my model can look very flat, but I want to show some three dimensionality.
     My last study is kind of a throwaway; I just wanted to practice the shapes so I'm more prepared for the final.  It also conveys how when the ground is not shown, the pieces look pressed flat on top of each other and there is no depth.
      The composition I feel most attracted to, and Gail agreed, is the one in Study #2.  I think it is the most interesting.  However, if I follow the model exactly, there are spaces left with nothing and they feel empty.  I will have to repeat elements to fill it in, or invent shapes to fill it in. 

                                                          ^^^Study #2^^^^


        Gail suggested I should paint in layers: start by painting the background, then sequentially each shape as they approach closer.  Because I'm going to be layering in a short time, she suggested I start with acrylic paint and then move to oil.  This will also help me quickly block everything out so that the overlapping shapes are less confusing. 

        I'm considering using tape or contact paper to leave layers underneath untouched. We'll see what happens.
         In my Painting 1 class, we had to copy a famous artist's painting stroke for stroke.  I chose a Matisse painting "Nude on a yellow chair."  Although he used very active and bold brushwork, through the use of light and shadow the body is still full and three dimensional.  I hope to achieve this? Possibly? Well see.

                                                (Don't mind my lovely wood paneling)

Long post! UGH! buying canvas and starting tomorrow.

Study #2

This is my second study.  This time I focused on the paper structures.  The composition was a lot more complicated than the first so I drew it out in pencil first. This actually helped a lot so I think I'll have to do that for my final painting.  I like this composition a lot more, however, I'm worried that it will be too difficult to finish in the full size painting. 

I think in my next study I want to push the abstraction even more.... I think I've decided I'm not really interested in making it look exactly like paper pieces. However, I do think I want to retain some sense of depth and three dimensionality.

Study #1

This is my first study. I was not sure if I wanted to focus more on the paper shapes or the shadows they project on the background, so in this study I included them both equally.  This composition is not as interesting as I wanted it to be, so I may try moving the light source to get different shadows.  I do like how it is zoomed in, so I will probably try that again but focus on something else.

I'm also really anxious and stressed because I'm getting really behind on this painting due to my 2 week long cold that refuses to go away....... and after doing this study I'm realizing how intricate and difficult the full size painting is going to be.

Model

This is my model so far.

Short description of the model, inspirations and ideas:
I wanted to use abstract shapes that were also inspired by organic forms.  I'm interested in color and shadow. I'm still uncertain how abstract or representational I want to make it.

Painting 2 - First Post!

This is my first post for Painting 2!