Portrait Workshop ... a new project!

Since I finished my Degree I have been looking for something to get my teeth into ... a new project. A friend of mine suggested joining the local art society so I have. They meet for talks and workshops, demonstrations and an annual exhibition.

The first workshop was this weekend and involved a whole day with an artist, the lovely Keith Morton, who showed us the world of portrait.

To be honest with you its been 4 years since I last drew or painted anything in anger. I set up a little blog to show some of the stuff I did, but I am under no illusion as to my ability ( or lack of it!). I know that I can draw and I have muddled my way into watercolour painting, but I am hardly an expert and because my forays into drawing and painting are so rare my "work" is ok but not great.

I was nervous driving to the hall where we were to meet. I began to wonder what on earth I was doing! But you know ... the people there were just lovely! Very welcoming and warm.

 Keith was warm and friendly and a damn good artist. He gave a class in which he made everything so clear. I have always done everything by eye, but he was into measuring. This was a revelation to me. It was almost as if we were not painting, but modelling, sculpting in paint.

By getting the measurements right the proportions became true. I know my drawing is not perfect, but its alright and its a start.

I decided to sketch first and chose a photograph of an old man as I thought that drawing a stranger would be easier than drawing someone I know. Sometimes if you know a face very well you can imagine what you think is there ... but actually is not.

Keith spent all day walking round guiding us all. He had a way of making you think your work was fab and if you just tried this ... or that... it might look even fabber!! He was lovely.

I spent time getting used to using my pencil again and eventually I got back into the rhythm. There is something so relaxing, so very therapeutic about spending a day thinking, studying, drawing, painting. I finished my sketch, had lunch and decided to paint.

Now painting was tricky! My man ended up looking rather like a zombie!! But he was ok ... not brilliant, but a reasonable effort considering. I wanted my work to look fresh and loose rather than overworked and tense so I am pleased with that aspect. Now I need to practise!!!

Sunday Sketches

This week's Sunday Sketch is a pencil sketch of my boys. Hope you like it. For more Sunday Sketches do go and visit Sophia's Blue Chair Diary.

Woman's Face - watercolour.

Since I started working more on my painting I can see progress. Each day I know what I want to work on. I painted this portrait and over the last few days have worked on it more. There are parts that I like and think that I have done well, and parts that I know could be better.Its funny how the image in my head is still not the image on the paper, but every day I work on a piece the two get closer together!


Each painting or drawing I do I post in my Secret Gallery and the more I do the less it is for anyone else but me. I seem to be drawn in by the calming and therapeutic aspects of the creative process itself! To sit at my kitchen table with the radio on, the back door open to the garden and my paints before me is just lovely. As I lie in bed each night ideas pop into my mind for projects and I can't wait to start drawing. I can't believe that I have spent so many years not doing this... Still, the most important thing is that I am doing it now and I am happy doing it.