Miriam

Most if this followed the usual process.  I used a grid to get a straight edges drawing down, then coloured it in with the edges of pencils.  I kept comparing my painting to the source photo and trying to work out what colour was missing.  I’d then add bits if that colour in the places I could see it, and some where I couldn’t.  Then I’d go back to comparing the painting to the source.  I repeated this until it felt as if the paper couldn’t take any more colour.

After that, it was just the finishing process, and this is where I did things differently.   One thing I did differently in the burnishing was to use a single colour all over the flesh, and that colour wasn’t cream: today it was ivory.  But the more striking difference is in the linework at the end.  I went over all the outlines more forcefully today, and in sepia.  I also used the sepia to add a load of internal lines.  I was wanting to emphasise the angularity of the drawing and I thought sepia might harmonise with some of the colour in the hair and the pillar.  I also added a little straight line to the front of the face for eyelashes.

Overall, I rate this one as a success and it’s going up for sale.  I’m not sure those sepia lines bring out the best in these figure drawings though.  I think JenH has been the best of these angular figure drawings so far, with her understated outline, lack of internal edges and shapely (rather than angular) colouring.  That’s the style that I need to replicate.

Oh, and I got some Facebook feedback saying that this painting has a Japanese feel to it.  Yeah, I can see that.  Not just in the eye but also in those strong straight lines.  The jury’s still out.