Contemplative Lady

My sixth painting, on 30x40cm cardboard canvas. 4 hours of painting, using only Burnt Umber.


The inspiration model is Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, as figuring on stamps: https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/277815870735508064/visual-search/?cropSource=6&h=523&w=413&x=17&y=34


Since I was waiting for a monochromatic landscape to dry, experience a proper priming and too much of liquid white, I skipped to another painting where I could use this mistake of playing on a piece of soap. :) I wanted to do this kind of painting taught by John Thamm, so I added the told layer of varnish (not real shellac) to get the canvas ready.


Doodling and finding out the basic shapes of the head on a piece of paper helps a little, but anyone can do without I guess, directly on canvas. The technique indeed is very forgiving. To get the proportions right, I noticed multiple circles aligning with details. Former experience drawing heads on pencil was useful (mostly learnt from Mike Rohde, fyi: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1elri6WQzEOc7tD18EZOg).


Even if followed the steps in the video, I went back and forth to detailing the face, the hair and cap, shoulders and background (cleaning the excess paint on a single brush in the corner, making those rays). I will leave this portrait as it is, for a first try and as a future reference. Sure will do others, with or without colors. ;)


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@Voy: Thank you for your comment on the previous painting! ;) I re-upload this one with less reflections and better resolution. (If the webmaster reads this, I couldn't find another way to change the picture, sorry!)
Indeed there is a supposition of wind in the paiting as well as in the base model. Actually, hair was probably the easiest part to paint, but the trap is to overdo them. :)

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