Sleeping Nude

I like to try new ways to paint all the time.  Recently, I was watching some watercolor videos I had collected a long time ago.  The video suggested covering the entire paper with paint as a base color, then going back and doing the same thing with the next layer, etc.  I'd gotten away from doing this because I never seemed to be able to paint quite right like that.

Well, with this picture, since I had just watches those videos,  I tried it.  Well, I hated it.  I painted this whole picture that way, and kinda got fed up with it and walked away.  Maybe I can't see that large a picture or something.  I went back over this picture with what I call "my way" and it got better, but sill not loving this one.

Maybe its because I have the attention span of a gnat (already had to take 3 breaks in typing this) or only the ability to think of half a thing at once, but "my way" is to paint a small portion, then go to another small portion, then another, and another, etc.   I don't mind going back over and back over to blend the portions previously painted together.  I think I can work with that method (my method) to paint just about anything.  It just seems that when I start painting a full layer of paint on paper, I lose the ability to manipulate the painting to what I want.  It just kinda goes its own way, and I'm constantly trying to reel it in.

Well, this one is what it is.  Hope you enjoy.

A Couple of Extras

This painting for sale.  Watercolor 5 1/2 x 8 1/2.  $8

 Here are a couple of paintings that I have had kicking around for a while. I don't think that either are particularly great, but I don't think that they are that bad either.

This painting for sale.  Watercolor 5 1/2 x 8 1/2.  $8

I was thinking that these would turn out is kind of a pin-up kind of way.  The first one I think does a pretty good job of that,  the bottom one, not quite so much.  Once again, on these, I think the hair was the hardest part.  I really like the shadowing on the top one, and actually like the skin tones on both.  I probably still have a way to go in painting people, but I think I'm getting closer.  I'll get there soon, but I think I might move on to a different subject matter for a while. Don't be surprised if starting next week there is a big run on some other topic of paintings.

Hope you all enjoy.

Woman on White Couch

Ok, I think I am getting better at hair.  I'm not saying this hair looks fantastic, but it looks better than the last one.

This is another one that might be destined to have a background put on at a later date.  I am, however, pretty pleased with the way this one turned out.

Woman on Rock

Well, still trying to learn to draw people.  Took this from a simple picture of a woman laying on a rock. I think i got a little good and a little bad, like lots of my paintings.  The bottom half of her is too big, or perhaps the top is too small.    I tried to make her look 3D but I'm not sure i really got it.  There are parts of her that look 3D but all in all, she still looks flat.  On top of that, it looks like both her legs are at the same depth.  I like the shading on the bottom of her torso (what would be her oblique).  I tried several techniques to make her look more roundish and 3D.  First I put on the basic skin color, then I made the bottom and just a touch of the top blueish, then put some red in the middle.  in painting Blue things look further away, red looks closer.  I think I need stronger values.  Then I put shading on her limbs, took out some paint on where I thought light would be hitting, and finally shading under her.  All those together should have given her a more 3D look.

I think i just need more practice.