Monday, August 11, 2008

A Birthday Day


Today is my sweet little girls birthday. She probably wouldn't like that I am sharing this particular picture. I am always trying to capture that pouty mouth in my paintings.

Haven't yet. Nevertheless, this picture was my inspiration for this journal page.

I have made six journal pages now and I thought I would share with you some things I have discovered. Not about my inner self so much but about my painting challenge.


I challenged my self to paint faces without first doing a pencil sketch. I've challenged myself to use other than flesh skin tones. I challenged myself to paint the face right across the middle of the book. I challenged myself to not paint hair and then I did. Paint hair.



The first thing I discovered was there is not much difference doing the sketch with paint instead of pencil. As a matter of fact, I think I prefer it for now.

This is not a discovery but even though I know the eyes are right in the middle of the face/head, I have a hard time with that. I clearly always make the nose too long.

The face on the first four pages were painted out of my head. I was just trying to get a human face on paper. I was pleased. Then, on "upside down world" posted yesterday, I was actually looking at a face (that was not in color) when I painted her. I enjoyed just laying in the light and dark colors and enjoyed seeing the loose effect. Something I long to do but can not stop blending and blending.

That was so much fun that I thought to use this picture of my daughter to paint my next page. I cropped the picture to the same ratio as the book spread. Then printed it but about 1/4 the size of the book spread. Here is what I discovered. I could not help but try to paint a "likeness" since I knew who the picture was. And so I kept blending and blending and overworking it.

Of course, I did not get the likeness and stopped trying when I realized that I was trying too. Getting the likeness was not part of my challenge. Another day for that. I moved the chin up more than once and move the mouth up once but never moved the nose. Anyway I really like it and maybe it is just me but she seems to be more of a portrait than any of the others.


Also, I like the composition of the photograph with the perpendicular lines that the door frame gave and I mimicked that with the paper napkin. I may paint in a little more definition on the flowers or I may decide enough.
I'm planning to have a great Monday. Hope you are too.
Enough for now,
Sharon



32 comments:

  1. I really love this Sharon! Now that you don't have to sketch first you will save time and get MORE art done...right?
    The portrait makes me think of an indian girl with a headdress. I know the women didn't wear them but that's what it reminded me of.
    Great art as usual!
    Having a great Monday..enjoying the rain.
    xo suze

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  2. WOW this is stunning! Happy Birthday to your daughter! I love the lines :)

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  3. Happy birthday to your girl! No wonder you are inspired to paint her. You make magic with color. Now I want to try and use all of those wonderful tones on the skin.... simple skin tone seems boring compared to what you're doing. xo

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  4. Oh Sharon, your work is absolutely stunning. I love the way you paint, challenge yourself and share your thoughts! I wrote this before I saw Kim's comment, but I am going to keep it anyway...Have a wonderful week...Roxanne

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  5. What a wonderfull double page !!!!!!

    incredible !!!

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  6. These are beautiful - the color ant the lines are very graceful and have lots of feeling! Kartika

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  7. Sharon,

    This is really good, you are inspiring me to try painting faces again...

    kate

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  8. Really beautiful!! Happy birthday to your daughter.
    chris p

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  9. I'm loving your faces and journal pages, Sharon. The faces are so interesting and full of character. Thank you for sharing your self challenges, your art, and yourself with us. You inspire me too. :)Sharon in TN

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  10. You keep raising the bar and accomplishing great things. I love this. the face is beautiful and the flowers are lush.
    It is a happy Monday indeed.
    Happy Birthday to your Daughter.

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  11. Sharon - A very happy birthday to your daughter! Both she and the painted version of her are quite beautiful!!!! You do a great job of these portraits and I love seeing how you do it. To do this, I think the painter is beautiful too! Pat

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  12. Your baby is gorgeous - just like her Mum. Happy, late, bithday to her.

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  13. Congrats!
    I always love to read your stories, thanks for that. Makes me want to run downstairs and PAINT.
    The portret is beautiful.
    xo Karin

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  14. WOW !! Wonderful !

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  15. Happy Birthday to your daughter, she looks lovely both in the photo and in your painting.

    Thanks for describing your working process so well.

    Darla

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  16. Happy Birthday to your daughter! I'm just sitting here enjoying this picture....I think it's one of my favorites. You are such an inspiration....I know I keep saying that but it's true!

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  17. Looks awesome Sharon!!! Keep on 'experimenting' :) Happy Birthday to your 'baby'!!

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  18. Happy Birthday!

    You got the lips perfect, Sharon! Likeness or not..it's perfect!

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  19. interesting blog...nice pics

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  20. Hi Sharon: Love your pages ++++ your daughter's picture is wonderful. Also, I recognize the napkin you used, how cool is that: ) Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter, hope she is still celebrating her day. it's my birthday today and I am having a most glorious day !!!
    Love & Blessings, Sandra in AZ

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  21. ahhh...to be able to paint like this...love it and you are very talented. Happy B-day to your daughter...

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  22. I am inspired to action and will be taking a basic acrylic course this fall, providing that the class fills up...The journal is coming along so well and it is fun to watch what you are doing as you describe the techniques or thoughts you are having come to fruition. Happy Birthday to your daughter and to you on her birthday, be happy!

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  23. Dont be so hard on yourself... this is soft and moody, you have captured that..especially the shading.. it rocks.

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  24. This painting is amazing! I love how the images you've combined flow so nicely together, and the flowers are gorgeous!
    BTW, you are one of my CD winners. Send me your address at audreyeclectic at gmail.com and I'll mail it out to ya :)

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  25. happy birthday to daughter dear.

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  26. I love all of your art very much, everytime you amaze me with the beauty! I left a nomination on my blog for you!

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  27. I think she's beautiful(photo). You make a fabulous likeness of her. Did she like it?

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  28. your work gets prettier all the time, as does your daughter I am sure! Happy Belated to her!

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  29. Love this blog! Your work is beautiful and very unique. It's been a very long time since I've focused on faces. You inspire me. We'll see.... Mary

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  30. oh just a wonderful painting! and a happy birthday to your daughter. :)

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