Nude sketch

I was challenged by a friend to do a nude sketch.  I didn't have a model to sit for me, but thanks to the good folks at pixelovely I was able to find something to paint.

It is of course a woman sitting with her head turned away from us.  I wasn't initially happy with the sketch, so I added a little background.  The colors are nothing like the original picture, but I think they help.

Since I wanted light on the models back, I put yellow there and tried to make it progressively darker as we move to the left.  I think it helped with the representation of light.

I've been reading a bit about painting quickly, and I am excited to learn that these quick sketches really are a valuable to learn form, shading and water control for watercolors.  I really like doing them, since they are so quick and last about as long as my attention span.  This sketch, for example, from blank page to finish was about 30 minutes.

Hope you enjoy it.