This week I started setting up my studio for painting. It’s been a long time since I did any significant painting, especially in oils, which is what I intend to use, for the most part. I have some ancient paints, which I think will be adequate while I re-acquaint myself with color mixing.
I well-remember the elements and principles of composition. After all, I taught art in a high school for 3 years. The introductory course focussed on the elements and principles of design: line, shape, size, position, color, texture, and density, and harmony, balance, and rhythm. But color can be immensely complex. Within that single element are hues, values, intensities, shades, tints, compliments, keys, analagous, primary, secondary, warm, cool, transparent, opaque, permanent, tertiary, and my goodness, stop, I’m already intimidated!
I had done most of the corrections of my drawings in the main part of my house, and my studio was just recently renovated, so it was not set up at all. I carried the studio furniture into the new space — easels, taborets, drafting tables, and desks. It feels very strange in there with nothing on the walls yet, and the tables and easels are empty.
My only injury was a bad whack on the top of my head when the post of my big easel smacked into a dropped ceiling and stopped me in my tracks. (Note to self.)
I still attended the weekly figure drawing session at Studio b. Our model this week had been in Europe this past fall. She told me she had shown my website posts all over Europe, which pleased me hugely. I have no idea how many people actually read my posts, or how long they spend looking at my drawings. My webmaster is counting it all, but I haven’t asked him what the numbers are. At this point, I am just happy to share the process. Below are two warm-up drawings with multiple poses, and two longer poses.
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Most of my images are available for purchase. Contact me if you are interested. — Joan Vienot