Friday, January 30, 2009

Circles - GPP Street Team Crusade No. 27

I had been considering participating with the Green Pepper Street Team Crusade, but I've been focused on my journal. But with my post of circles last week, I was on my way to having something to post for GPP. I have been doodling and playing with circles. Last night I took a square of illustration board that I'd primed with grey gesso several months ago. I built a base of Prussian Blue & Unbleached Titanium. Next I used matte medium to adhere green polka dot tissue paper to much of the support, but leaving the center portion open. Layers of gesso and paint were built up and tamped off. In the middle of the support, I started "seeing" the face of a woman emerge. You know, it's like when you see things in the clouds.
What did a woman have to do with all this layering of circles I was creating? Don't over think it, and just go for it. So I did. I didn't use any reference pictures to paint her. I've been studying faces and I'm learning. There are some areas that are quite the struggle for me, but that just gives me more to work on.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I have some ideas. I'm at the point where it's hard for me to add more because I don't want to "ruin" it.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

The bubble wrap background looks great - and the face is wonderful.

michelle ward said...

regina - i love that there are circles over circles. lots of layers. lovely!

Andrea Rooks said...

I love the face -- she looks like a blue fairy from a novel I just read... She looks so natural just glancing off the page like that. Your art is very inspiring to me!

Island Girl said...

Your painting is lovely. The woman's face is beautiful. At first glance I thought that it was a self portrait. Perhaps you are seeing yourself in the clouds? It's not a bad place to be. I practically live there . . .

Stephanie

Anonymous said...

Regina - I think this is beautiful I wish I could draw faces like this.

Regina said...

Thank you so much for your comments. I would not have been able to paint that face a year ago. I've just been practicing sketching and studying faces. Hubby kindly critiques to help me see mistakes in proportion that I overlook. I still have so far to go, but I am thrilled with the progress I've made. Seriously, I didn't think I could draw well just a few years ago, but you can always learn. There are great books out there.

Anonymous said...

Hello Regina,

the face is really good, but I also like the layered background.
I just post my post about the crusade... I have the same shape...:)

greetings from belgium
Inge

Anonymous said...

Regina, all of your journal pages are wonderful, i really love this one, beautiful! the face is a hard one to perfect, i am still working hard on getting my faces to look real... every day painting really has helped me, but i know i have a ways to go, but to look back and see where i have come...pretty cool to see the difference.
xo

Anonymous said...

Your image is very rich. I particularly like how it came entirely out of your intuition. A lovely use of shape!

Shayla said...

This is so pretty, Regina!