Portrait Practice #5

I thought it would be a good challenge to participate in Ahmed Aldoori's 50 heads challenge. I plan to do 100 ultimately. I want to improve my proficiency in the placement of facial features. And use it as painting practice as well. I plan to paint one head a day after (non art)work. I've been reviewing Hampton's notes on heads. I think reviewing Loomis and the Reilly method, watching Proko vids on the head  are worth doing. Here is what I've done so far. Ahmed's pinterest board is where I got a lot of these heads to paint.

I felt like moderndayjames' challenges helped a lot even if mentally. Doing 100 studies felt like a good achievement and felt like I might have been making progress.

I have been having difficulty finding illustration work this month but I'll keep on trying.

Portrait Practice #4

I've been trying to do one portrait a day while listening to Watts videos and also going over the Reilly Method which is neat. I like the rhythms it uses. Learning different methods of drawing the head I think is useful. I've looked at Proko's method (which is very Loomis+reilly based) and also Hampton's head. They're all very similar but seeing it explained by different people and different ways is slowly cementing the knowledge over the years in my brain.

 Above are from photos. Below is from imagination. I still have difficulties with proportion and getting through the lay in stage.

Heard of Nicolai Fechin through Watts videos and his work is very compelling.

Portraits Practice #3

I've been doing studies of asaro heads. They're like low poly heads. i think it's helping me to see the parts of the head where gradual transition of values is present versus the areas where it's a severe change in values. Reference.

 I also did a portrait study but I feel like I need to spend a bit more time on the lay in phase. I listened to some Jeff Watts videos while doing this.

Figure Drawing #7: More Muscles; Trapezius + Deltoid

I take it back, I think Hampton will occupy me for a while. Today there was swimming on tv which was great. Got to see the muscles on those people in action with new Hampton taught eyes. They make much more sense than before. Really neat. Got motivated to draw some cool gestures too. My aim is to study at least 2 muscles a day from Hampton. If I can do more, great. If not, no problem. There's always tomorrow.

Also did a portrait study. Inspired to work harder by beautiful portrait studies in permanoobs forum sketchbook section. I still have a long way to go. It took about 45 minutes hmm. I'm sure if it was color it would have taken more. Really trying to understand the planes of the face. Though I don't want to focus too much on rendering at this point. I'll render as a tool to understand the structure and form of something.

You know what's embarrassing? Up until a few days ago I thought edges were the boundaries of a form. I didn't realize it was the soft versus hard edged shading of forms. Well... You learn as you go I guess. I've been having a lot of these mini epiphanies regarding art in the last year. I mean, in a way I was thinking not too far from the right idea but there's more to edges I think. Using a variety of edges tends to add visual interest.

So my aim now is to get through Hampton and then use other figure drawing resources to supplement my knowledge of the body such as Anatomy for Sculptors and Loomis. One idea I had was make posts for each muscle and examine it in great detail. Also do figure studies of all sorts, keep referring back to Hampton and other notes for help.

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Under the cut are some reference materials

Portrait Practice #2

More portrait practice. I'd like to move on to figure drawing practice in my next study posts while still doing some portrait studies.

Under the cut are notes and reflections.

Portrait Practice #1

It's intimidating trying to choose what fundamental of art to practice. You get paralyzed by the sheer number of choices. But you gotta start somewhere. Even if that somewhere is actually familiar. ...like really familiar. Like I draw this thing like 20 times a day familiar. What else is there to learn about that thing? You would be surprised. 

And so I'm trying to learn something or another about portraits. Because I think, despite drawing a shitload of them, I certainly still suck at them. 

Under the cut are notes and studies and some processes.