Dispersion

Dispersion

Assembling and arranging the elements in this painting exercised my improvisation skills.   Dispersed were the feminine forms, negative spaces around the forms and the linear and geometric shapes.  

The random shapes of the billowing white chiffon of the woman in the foreground contrasted with the angular background but connected with the splash of light on the background figure's platform.   Although there was ambient light in the studio, the nude model in the background had an overhead spotlight, while the chiffon model faced a 45 degree angled light.  Dispersion of a sunbeam through a window prism cast a spectrum too, a rainbow spectrum.

The beauty of the figure and the challenge of painting it can't be compared to anything else for a painter.   The portrait never seems done, as in this scene with two models.

Blue Sandals

Blue Sandals

This pose caught my eye right away.    If the beautiful figure were to be leaning too much one way or another, the eye would immediately identify the imbalance and be disturbed by it.   The weight of the upper torso is supported by a straight right arm to the chair, and the remaining weight falls onto the planted foot (yes, complicated with a stiletto).    The figure is the focus, so all the other elements are intentionally subdued and blurred.  Classic but contemporary painting depicting the grace of the human figure.

A Bathing Grace

A Bathing Grace

For centuries in the world of art, there has been endless fascination with the human figure.    Painters have challenged themselves and each other to correctly capture an image that honors the beauty of the body.  Every time I take on a new rendering of a figure, I ask myself, why don't I do this more. The lines, proportions and color of a human being make it - perhaps - the most fascinating of all subjects.  Here is a new painting, done from a high resolution photograph.

Nude Apres Shower

Nude Apres Shower Stage One

This painting was the result of a two session sitting.   At the initial session when we decided on this pose, it looked like an "easy-to-hold" pose for the model.  After all it was sitting, but it turned out that this was a difficult pose.  The majority of pressure was on the right leg.    Our model is quite dedicated and was determined to hold the pose anyway and she successfully completed the challenge, not only for one three hour session, but a second three hour session a week later.   A big thank you to her.

I particularly liked this pose because it seemed more natural, as if the person was in the process of getting out of the shower, toweling off, or perhaps applying lotion.  The substrate for this painting was a smooth 16" x 20"  gessoboard, that had been toned with enough fleshtone color to give the smooth surface some tooth.   

I "drew" in the armature with transparent oxide brown.  Using all my measuring tools I modeled the figure.   I used excess paint which I could then wipe off with a papertowel to get an accurate figure drawing.  The fleshtone ground underneath provided a ready made skin hue.  I didn't rush this part and had to keep stepping back and re-measuring.  It was tempting to launch ahead with color, but I have found that, for me, that usually backfires.  I worked cool fleshtones with green oxide and alizarin crimson.  At the end of the first day, I had a decent drawing in paint, but that was too light and too green, as can be seen in Stage One photo.



Nude Apres Shower - Final

On the second day, I immediately washed over the green fleshtones with alizarin crimson.  I also  reapplied a dark background to redefine the figure.   The figure was backlit from my angle in the room.   The right inner shoulder was in shadow, and was the background for the facial profile, a nice contrast with the forehead, nose, lip and chin which all picked up some light.   The brightest edge of all was the rim light on the right shoulder hence it has the cleanest edge with the brightest light.   All other highlights were made less bright, and all other edges were made fuzzier.

The final touches that I made back in my studio were to add the stool she is sitting on as well as an understated bottle of lotion and a towel, completing the theme of "après shower."




Figure Painting - Nude Standing

Nude Model from Back - Standing

This painting was done in two sessions.   The light used had a cool bluish cast to it so the right shoulder and hip were the lightest, coolest tone.   In contrast, the model's complexion was warm so I played up that feature along with red in the hands.   I worked to diminish the edges on the shadowed left leg and shoulder.   I liked the accent of light on the left elbow as it leaned on the pedestal so I added it, trying not to have it be too important.  I' m working on staying loose, so in that respect, I think this painting shows movement in that direction.