Ozzy Osbourne

Today it’s the late Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath who does a week ago just 17 days after performing in his farewell concert.

I picked out this source photo because it showed a man tired after years on the road. Stripy clothing always makes or a good portrait too, and the crucifix should be enough to convince people this is Ozzy and not Geddy Lee. The photo converted really well to three values. I went for a posterised portrait in the trippy scheme rather than for crystalline watercolours because the dark shapes weren’t too complicated, so I wouldn’t be faced with a tough choice between adding darks freehand and having lots of visible pencil lines.

I followed my usual process for posterised paintings in the trippy scheme. While adding the final, French ultramarine layer, I painted between the masked stripes rather than over them in an attempt to get a little of the first layer showing through in places and at think this worked.

It’s pretty good, this one. There’s lots to celebrate. The way the stripes guide the eye to Ozzy’s face, the background colours, the way the shapes of the stripes suggest hands in pockets. I can survive the cauliflower to the left of Ozzy’s head and even the hard edges of the stripes. This one is easily good enough to go up in the shop window. You’ll find it, and its price, here.

RIP Ozzy.