Beginnings of Jim

 This is where I finished when the light went and the rain came on Monday:  happier with the chin and far eye, but still working on the near eye and background:  thought I wanted green, but it's not right, so it might be a 'paint it white' till I sort out the tones and colours of face and shirt, and then hope inspiration will strike.

 This is how I started:  thought I wanted a 3/4 portrait this time, and may indeed go back to it

And a little bit more on Bean.

eyes

Doing eyes:  second pic's a bit shiny as it was a late painting session again yesterday, so resorting to the trusty daylight bulb.  Looking forward to getting more of the half smile happening, so the eyes get a bit less frowny.

middle bits

Did a bit of a re-organise of the studio space this weekend:  looking at some still life painting, so moved the old 'bar' cabinet flush against the wall to give some space for lights, easel, etc.  An added bonus is the greater sense of space in general up here:   nice.

colour blocks

back to life studies for the new year

I'm doing these very much as 'studies': experiments or training or practice (or all three) in 

a) working with blocking and then glazing skin tones on board.  Done the blocking, now weeks of glazing ahead.  Most of my portraits are on canvas and the landscapes on board for some reason so it's interesting seeing how the putting on of the paint changes due to the material of the support.

b) using light and shade to model shapes and moods when it's only gestures of a part of a body and not faces

c) hands

d) new ways of colour mixing for skin tones, to get out of my ruts of burnt sienna and yellow ochre:  mixing cadmium red and ultramarine for shadows, cadmium orange and mars violet for other darks: I've got a colour chart and I'm actually looking at it for more than 'ooo what pretty colours' . . .

familiar faces