Portraits

I've started to enjoy painting portraits. I'm not sure how it happened but my entire attitude has shifted. Maybe I didn't see the process in it before. Its been an interesting experience. I've played with different styles, and mediums. I've been doing a lot of sketching, although much less than I want... I've been taking up most of my time with digital paintings.

Its nice cause I can play with different styles or mediums. Mixing colors. Its definitely helped me understand the process on a much better level. Its also helped me see that a plan is essential to a good painting or illustration. I think that is one bad thing about abstract work, I mean you have a plan but its not the same... with abstract work I feel like there is more of a give and take. You have a direction but the goal is more open. Its process but in a different way...

Process for the sake of process? Art for the sake of art? I read Burn Hogarth's Dynamic Anatomy this weekend and he was lamenting more modern art and I can kindof understand why... But I love modern art too. I am still thinking of how I can push my figure paintings and portraits into a more loose and dynamic direction.

I keep trying to wrap my mind around how I can combine my figures and my cities, I think I have an idea, I just need to execute, I guess I'm not feeling confident enough yet. Still loosening things up and trying to make sure I really do understand the structure of the face and body. I can see a vast improvement in just a month so its really exciting. Improvements like these are important, it raises the quality of everything you do which just makes every project exciting.

Below are the portraits I've been working on. I unfortunately didn't get around to posting until I already had quite a few. Maybe I'll split things up and post through the week till I get caught up and then maybe I can try to get more regular about updating.