Intense Red Head Painting

This painting is from the last lesson in Let's Face It 2017. I started by following the lesson but then went my own way by taking a mixed media approach and using some techniques outside the lesson. I love it when you get in the flow and it all comes together - don't you?

She looks pretty intense, but I hope you will be feeling relaxed as we approach the Holidays.

Thanks for visiting and commenting. I wish those of you who celebrate it a Merry Christmas and I wish everyone a Creative And Happy New Year!

-Laney

Linking up with PPF.

No More Gremlins

 

This work in progress is from a lesson in Let's Face It 2017 by Renata Loree.
Been a while since I painted.
You know those gremlins in your head that can stop you if you let them?
I let them.
But then I decided to banish them.

If those gremlins are messing with your head - send them packing!
Wishing you a creative weekend.

-Laney

Linking up with PPF,

More from Let's Face It.

I am still loving the LFI 2017 class with Kara Bullock (and a bunch of other instructors), but I decided to sign up for another class with just Kara in order to get more lessons from her. This painting above is my version of one of the lessons in her Nesties Class. I did this painting on canvas which was a nice change from working on paper and wood cradle board.

This painting is from Let's Face It 2017 - a lesson with Kara. It was lots of fun to bring so much color into the background.  This is on wood cradle board and I have to say I love working on these boards. There is something I love about the hard, smooth surface.  It just feels good to work on. But hen again canvas is fun, too. I guess I don't have to pick a favorite.  ;)

I can highly recommend Let's Face It or any class with Kara - she's a fantastic teacher!

Hope you are having a creative week!

-Laney

Linking up with PPF.

Finding and Going Your Own Way

Finding and Going My Own Way

In Let's Face It 2017 we had a lesson from Effy Wild - which I did not follow!  Effy taught us a complex layering process - which was beautiful - but I wanted to use different media (her layers included spray inks and I just don't like them) and I did not make nearly as many layers as Effy did. In the end she "hid" the background in places and had it show through in others. I liked it showing through all over.

  

I really went my own way with this - it doesn't  resemble Effy's piece, I didn't really follow her instructions but I very much enjoyed her lesson and welcomed the inspiration.

Finding and Going My Own Way- detail

And isn't that what art is all about anyway? Finding and going your own way? 

Teachers and classes provide a wealth of information, techniques, and inspiration. These are very valuable things. Copying teachers and other artists is an incredible way to learn. But we must move from copying to finding our own voice and making the techniques and materials our own as we give expression to our own creative ideas - finding and going our own way.

Hope you are all finding and going your own way to having a great and creative weekend. As always, I'd love to see what you're working on.   :)

-Laney

Let's face It 2017 Week 4

Still loving this class.  The above painting is my effort in a lesson from Juna Biagioni. Her style is much softer and looser than mine - though loosening up is one of my goals. Despite my not being very "loose" it was a very interesting technique to learn.  The focus for these first few weeks of the class is on values and once the values part of this lesson was completed we learned about glazing for a touch of color. Obviously I am having difficulty with the eyes more than anything else. I had to redo them multiple times and finally had to decide this one was finished.  :)

Hope you are all having a great week! I'd loveto see what you have been working on.

-Laney

Linking up with Paint Party Friday

Let's Face It 2017 Week 3

Let's Face IT is proving to be quite an inspiring course.
This is my version of a great lesson from Kara Bullock. Our focus is on values for several weeks, thus the black and white.  I love Kara's technique and really want to attempt this again - need more practice! This was also my first time to paint on a wood cradle board and I liked working on that surface.

I got a better likeness to the reference photo in this sketch than I achieved in the painting.  But so far this is a fantastic learning experience!

Hope you have all had a great week! And I would love to see what you have been working on.  :)

-Laney

Linking up with Paint Party Friday

Let's Face It 2017

My take on an exercise in lesson one from Kara Bullock in Let's Face It 2017

I signed up for Let's Face It 2017. This is a year long art class all about painting faces/portraits. It is led and hosted by Kara Bullock but includes 19 other teachers throughout the year.  I have been busy with these lessons. I started a couple of weeks late and have been playing catch-up with the two lessons that were already published when I joined so that I can be on schedule as the new lessons come out.

Lesson One involved sketching faces from several angles and I have enjoyed working on these faces in my sketchbook.

Profile sketch from Let's Face It 2017

If you are not familiar with this class or with Kara I recommend you check out her website.  The class is great so far and Kara is an excellent teacher.

So that's what I've been up to - and why I am late to the PPF party. I hope you have been creating something fun recently.  I'd love to see what you are working on.

-Laney