Three Quarter Portrait on a Red Ground
Oil on Linen Panel, 20x16"
This is another attempt at painting on a red ground. Not much of the red ground is left showing on this one. Ideally, the red ground is not to be totally covered. Much of it should show. It has for the previous paintings but, I got carried away. The lighting for this pose is much like the lighting used for the demo which got me interested in this technique in the first place.
This kind of high contrast is the first time our group went for strong lighting in a long time. I am having difficulty clearly seeing the dark areas and the boundary between light and dark along her nose. My astigmatism is pronounced and may be beyond what is correctable. So I can't see edges clearly. It's all doubled.
I had real difficulty with the contour of the nose and, since it was so dark, I couldn't see exactly what her right eye really looked like. It is a little distorted. On the whole I am pleased with my value range. This approach has helped me a great deal with that. If you click on the image to enlarge it you will see a little of the red ground to the right in the background. It will look a little bit violet there.
I am still figuring out what the shadow tones should be. I have to look at the demo again to see if a shadow palette is suggested. It will be the 6th or 7th time I will have watched it all 12 parts! I'm going to do a small red ground painting next time. I will have to be home to prepare for a Mother's Day family gathering the following week and will have only one session to finish. I have a son who is getting married and the wedding families are coming together to meet each other on Mother's Day. Exciting stuff!
(And my mother's 97th birthday was yesterday. We all celebrated at our favorite sushi restaurant. She loves oysters!)
Beautiful. Enjoy your celebrations.
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