Painting Development : Myles
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SEE HOW THE PAINTING PROGRESSED, (Step by Step):
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1. A new painting… a new challenge! Although this painting is similar in general composition to my last work, it has some new challenges to deal with. The most significant is the boy being painted… Myles is a red headed boy; so has a much fairer complexion than James (in the last painting). So the rendering of his skin and hair will prove an interesting exercise.
Also, a lot of time was spent arranging the bedding. It may look similar to the previous painting… but there are some planned differences. Hopefully all should become clear when I render them.
2. This is where it begins… After spending a lot of time finalizing the composition, I have transferred it onto the canvas (which has a coloured ‘ground’ applied).
3. Well… I’m back into it charging on. I had a bit of a stumbling block as I couldn’t get into the right mindset to tackle the painting again… so I briefly diverted myself onto another project. Now I feel fresh again and have made a good start on the duvet. The next image shows this.
4. Busy, busy, busy! I have made some significant progress on the painting. I have done pretty much all of the sheets and completed the duvet. Watch the following images to see how it progressed… starting with the initial work on the sheet crossing Myles’ body.
5. This is a close up of the sheet below. It’s coming along nicely.
6. I am now starting to work on the last section of this crumpled sheet. Check out this image as well as the next one to see how it was completed.
7. Here’s a detail of the completed sheet. Can you see how it has changed from the last image?
8. Now the sheet is complete… The next image shows Myles with his pyjama top on.
9. Arrrgh! Once again… I have been diverted onto another project. Back into this painting today. I really want to get cracking with it now as I have already begun planning the next painting… which (with all going well) will be fantastic! But I can’t start that until this painting is finished. Right!… time to stop writing and get painting!
10. A good session painting today. I managed to get the bottom sheet completed. As you can see in the following image, it is quite dark in places. I’m wanting to create a strong tonal and colour temperature difference between the sheet and the duvet. Quite pleased so far. See what you think…
11. Was the pillow easier than the last painting of James?… Well… yes it was. But having said that; it wasn’t as easy as I had hoped. This is a good thing. If it was too easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing! Anyway… the pillow is now done… Well 90% done. It may be hard to visualize how it will finally look with Myles’s head rendered on it… but I have a clear vision in my head… it should look great!
12. I have been working diligently on the headboard. I had it complete… or so I thought! It looks too dark. So I am going to work on it again today. There are parts to every painting where you need to revisit regulary and retune. The headboard is one of those… so was the pillow! I have ‘adjusted’ that too. I haven’t taken a photo of this.
13. Well… instead, here is a photo of Myles with the headboard. It’s starting to come together nicely. However… after reworking the headboard twice… I have spotted something which just doesn’t look right. Know what it is?… Read on to find out…
14. The painting is ticking along nicely again. In the next image, did you spot the change I am making to the headboard? The part I am changing is the end slat. In reality, it is a large slat. However, it just didn’t look right. So I am making it thinner. This will be more appartent after the next session when I do the window glass.
15. Two steps forward… another two back; then another two ahead! What do I mean by that? Yesterday was quite interesting. I spent a long time working on the windows. I finished them off then asked for a ‘valued opinion’. Hmmm… The reply was that the glass looked like painted out windows. Not really the effect I was going for. So I scraped off the paint and started again. Took about 15 minutes to redo what I had previously done in 2 hours! Ahhh… that was my problem… I was spending too much time overworking the glass. It needed a very quick treatment. Lesson learned! Following is the image of the completed windows. The goal was to get the deep tones of the glass to tie in with the dark tones of the lower blue sheet. I think I have acheived it. Now onto the fun (and most challenging) part… Myles’ arm and head…
16. Here’s a closer detail near the windows.
17. A bit of a struggle last night. I have been working on Myles’ arm and hand for a long time. It eventually went well… I think. Hmmm… still not 100% sure on the end result. Time for a break and come back to it with ‘fresh eyes’. I think it isn’t finished yet! I have also made a start on his face… well a couple of brush strokes anyway.
18. Another good session yesterday. I have been working hard on Myles’ face. Seems to be going really well. I have also been fine tuning his arm and hand. I have also done some initial work on his face. Now done, the arm doesn’t look so much ‘out on its own’ anymore. They are now linked together purely by colour and tone. Have a look at the next two photos to see how it went from a few brush strokes to an almost finished face.
Here’s the face almost done. Just a little fine tuning to complete it.
19. I have been working hard on Myles face… and his hair… It took a while to get the colour mix correct. But now it is done and I am really pleased with it. I have also spent some more time working on his face… warming up the skin tones. And now… well… it’s all finished. Painting is signed and done! Here is an image of the finished work.
20. And of course… here is the wee man with his painting… Another happy chap!
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