A Good Start on the copy of Patroclus

In several consecutive evenings this past week, I've laid in the background and some basic starting tones in the shadows and lights of the skin. One thing I need to do is big form modelling on the body. The light source hits the shoulder first, and so this should remain the brightest... The extended hand and feet should be the darkest tones of skin, so I'll have to work on "greying down" the areas farthest from the shoulder... The balls of the feet will be difficult -- many variations of red and orange and brown in very small forms.

First Painting of Hermes is now Complete!

In one session last week, I added more paint to the hair layers and then revised the overall shadow area on the face, making it darker and browner in more areas. I think the values are correct now. I unintentionally enlarged the dimple in the chin, so that will have to be revised.

Note: I didn't take this photo from the correct position (too far to the right) and so the curtain seems out of alignment.

Subtle Colour Tints for the Gaul

In the last two sessions, I've concentrated on the area below the beard, particularly the shadows.
The darkest shadows require a subtle tint of red; the lighter shadows need a bit of orange mixed in. I'm supposed to add a small amount of Alizorin Crimson for the red and Burnt Sienna for the orange. I started doing so but more is needed. I also narrowed the overall shape of the neck and chest area before adding more detail in the lights.

To do still: finish modelling the base and then return to the head and make the light areas in the hair more neutral. They're too brown in places.

First painting of Hermes is nearly done...

The first painting stage is nearly done for Hermes. I built up the paint layer on the left forehead tonight. But, unless the camera is playing tricks, the shape of the head isn't quite right. The top right side slopes down more than it should.
To be corrected on Friday night.

Nose job and skull surgery

This was a week of major surgery... For a long while in December 2008 my canvas was off-kilter while sitting on the easel. It somehow shifted out of position and I did not check the plumb line with a level... The consequence was distortion that I failed to notice for weeks: a forehead that bulged, an eye shadow that was too wide, and a nose the was elongated and pointed up... So I trimmed them all back and tried to make corrections in the surrounding beard and hair line... I'm moving down to the neck and base next week, hoping to finish first painting ASAP...

-- Juan also recommended using larger brushes for first painting and not blending at all on the canvas --- just lay down blocks or patches of colour. By standing back from a distance, they should blend in... Save the true blending in for second painting when I'll be working up close.