My "Solitude" piece has somehow turned on me - I am about 95% finished, and I can't seem to bring myself to finish it! This happens to me sometimes (though never for commissions when I am determined to create a successful piece for the client), and I think that the best solution is to put it away for the time being. So I am starting a different piece this week, a traditional head and shoulders portrait. I am looking forward to starting because this portrait will have a simple background and be mostly about the face. I'm hoping my motivation to finish "Solitude" returns by the end of the week...
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8 comments:
Holly, nice concept. I like the piece. I'm wondering if perhaps the figure and the background are too separate entities. Your portrait is very nicely done and I really like the white blouse and all the color you've put into the folds. Your portrait is very high contrast and the background is very soft and gray. Hmmm. I don't know. I agree that sometimes its best to let it sit for a while and come back to it later. Good job anyway!
Thank you for your input, Kendra. I agree that the background is very different from the figure. I don't think I mind that, though - I think that part of the reason I'm not thrilled with the piece as a whole is because of the colors - very dark and somber, and kind of depressing!
Holly,
Well said. I've had the same experience my self where the paper doesn't like me and I don't care for it much either.
I do like what you've done so far. I think the 'eerie' back ground adds to the story. Hopefully you and the drawing can 'make up'...so we can someday see the finished piece.
Thanks, Marsha- I feel better knowing that this happens to other artists too. Maybe I'm just mad at myself (since it is a self portrait). I'm happy to be drawing someone else at the moment!
I like the somber colors! I just think you need to "fuzz" up the background a little and call it finished!
As motivation - the members only Portrait Society of America show deadline is December 12 or 13th!
Holly, this usually happens to artists when breaking new artistic ground. A freeze in production due to a break-away from one's typical creative formula. Does this make sense? Lol!
No worries, this has happened to me countless times and always with the paintings that veer off the normal path. Looks nearly done to me.
Thanks for the motivation, Chantell and Nicole. The piece is actually bigger - this photo shows a portion of it. The background is definitely more grainy looking due to the texture of the paper. I worked REALLY hard to create a smooth look for the face and shirt. I was thinking of leaving the background grainy to keep it from competing... we'll see. I haven't done any more on it yet!
Very nice piece. I'm sure once you put it away for a while, you will feel differently about it. I like the lost edges of the hair and background.
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