For this study, I set out to achieve an energetic mood, and experiment with colour. I wasn’t attempting unusual likeness. I also wanted to practice more creating background with nondistracting marks and blurred lines.

Preliminary sketches using myself as the model

I prefered the second one to the first. I followed the same technique as in my self-portrait; a charcoal sketch with values, fixing, washing in Quinidine red acrylic ink. Unfortunately, I did al of this on the rough side of the canvas which had too much tooth. So I had to add a couple layers of clear gesso and allow drying time. I then rewashed.

I pinted in the background plus negative shapes first. I outlined the figure in a dark value. Here I made the mistake of not allowing it to dry. I moved onto painting the darkest values and starting to add highlights.  Because my initial lines had become obscured, I lost all the proportions of the figure. I then had to try to re-establish them later, but they were still gross abstractions. Because there was so much medium, the paint was not drying quick enough. I am just learning the handling of oil, now appreciate the “fat over lean” concept. I used an initial colour palette of permanent rose, Ultramarine blue, Pthaleo blue, Pthaleo green, Cadmium yellow, flake white and zink white.

At this stage, I still am waiting for it to dry before I can make any more adjustments.