stlukesguild
Well-known member
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This painting is one of which I documented the most completely from start to finish. I began with the idea of two figures standing back to back... opposites... but without any clear theme at first. I began drawing directly on the working surface.
I have had several others suggest... and I quite agree... that there is something to these early stages with the underdrawings showing through. I have thought of stopping some works at this stage... thinking of Jenny Saville's big gestural drawings:
Once the figures were largely locked in I began working on the bigger shapes in the surrounding space and began priming the background with the usual reddish-brown/Burnt Sienna/Tuscan Red:
As I begin drawing the pattern I often need to draw right through the figures. This is the major reason I save drawing the figures for last.
As I began adding color I initially thought of continuing to work with those extreme neon/florescent colors similar to the last painting... but this time in Lime Green:
Green has never been a color that I have used as the dominant color in my paintings... thus I saw this as a challenge.
Again, you can see how the guidelines for the patterns go through the contours of the figures. You can also see how I am using the red variegated gold leaf... red contrasting the green:
I chose to match the dark-green and white checkerboard above with that below... as a visual rhyme.
continued...
I have had several others suggest... and I quite agree... that there is something to these early stages with the underdrawings showing through. I have thought of stopping some works at this stage... thinking of Jenny Saville's big gestural drawings:
Once the figures were largely locked in I began working on the bigger shapes in the surrounding space and began priming the background with the usual reddish-brown/Burnt Sienna/Tuscan Red:
As I begin drawing the pattern I often need to draw right through the figures. This is the major reason I save drawing the figures for last.
As I began adding color I initially thought of continuing to work with those extreme neon/florescent colors similar to the last painting... but this time in Lime Green:
Green has never been a color that I have used as the dominant color in my paintings... thus I saw this as a challenge.
Again, you can see how the guidelines for the patterns go through the contours of the figures. You can also see how I am using the red variegated gold leaf... red contrasting the green:
I chose to match the dark-green and white checkerboard above with that below... as a visual rhyme.
continued...