I’m continuing with the preliminary charcoal drawing of this figure before I start back into the oil painting again today. The idea is to construct the top left of the torso in charcoal then take that knowledge gained over to the oil painting.
Well, it was a good idea, but again I’m getting too overwhelmed by the information presented and I’m unable to simplify it.
The drawing of the shadow cast on the torso from the head, and the painting of the same went well. But, this area is basically one simple value and color with subtle changes. As soon as I start painting in the light areas I’m confused. I’m struggling to match the color, nor can I seem to get the value correct. Then I can’t seem to leave a simple stroke I have to blend it into the area and overwork it before I’m happy.
Honestly, I think this is why I should be working in gouache. It would force me to think simply and in patches of value and color. The fact that I struggle with this concept is no wonder that I abandoned gouache.
So there it is, I ran from gouache because it was hard and I wasn’t having fun… sigh… I need to get the gouache paints out again and force myself to think in simple shapes when modeling form.
