Week 3 The Head as a Cube, 3/4 View

We were thinking about the head as a cube today and how that effects the eye line and the mouth line. Drawing out a box from the 3/4 view, there are 2 vanishing points on either side. Often the vanishing points are well off the canvas, several feet to one side. What this means for the mouth is that it is at an angle very slightly different from the eyeline. Establish the tilt of the eyes, and then see how the mouth is a few degrees different. I just photoshopped several red lines onto a drawing which illustrate the most forward part of the 3/4 view:the cheek and how the eye and mouth run off at slightly different angles using their vanishing point to the right of the canvas.
The other thing about 3/4 view is that we don't see all of the mouth, the far corner is often obscured by the lobes of the lips. And we don't see the far inside corner of the eye, it is obscured by the bridge of the nose. We do see a great profile of the cheek bone. Not everyone had a 3/4 view, but when you get one, it's nice to know how to handle it, turning the features.
It's great to find an opportunity to tie together several pieces of shadow into one shape, and even loose some edges.

Week Three, The head as a Cube, 3/4 View part 2

Of all the things you can do to create space, using a vanishing point, is one of the most powerful tools.

Week Two, Getting Better with Just Umber

Today we were getting more comfortable with the whole idea of painting with just values. We had great shadows on our model, Roger McNew, we were able to see clearly how shadows can define the portrait. We were looking at the shadow line running down the center of the face, "the tideline" I call it, looking at it closely. I did a small demonstration on setting up the features, mapping and measuring. Everyone is expanding their ability to handle paint, using brushes and rags. Great session today from everyone!

Week Two, Getting better

Very exciting to see good work happening

Getting started with Paint, week One Spring Series

Welcome to our spring series, painting the model. Welcome to our new online students. Today we started with paint one color, burnt umber. We are getting used to the idea of drawing with our brush, painting the gesture of the head, setting the features. We see shapes and dark accents. We are also starting to address the negative space around the portrait. We worked with simple supplies, just one color paint, a brush and a rag, and a little oderless turp. Everyone had great success today! Including those who have never painted before.

Getting started with paint!

More exciting results from our first painting session, each of these are 20 minutes poses.