Sometimes the canvases come together quickly and sometimes I labor over them for hours. This one was a quickie…sort of.
I painted the background in August of 2011 and then let it sit on my shelf waiting for more. About a week ago I pulled out a bunch of unfinished canvases (this one included) and left them sitting by my easel, under the theory that easy access might lead to them actually getting finished.
The night before I left for Colorado, I was feeling nervous and decided to let off some steam by making an art mess. I grabbed this particular canvas and decided to sketch out a quick face. My intention was to make something "bad." I wanted to let go of some nerves by putting zero pressure on myself and just have some fun splashing paint around.
But, as always happens when you take the pressure off, I ended up quite liking where the bad sketch was headed and finished up the painting rather quickly.
There's something about this painting that's oddly compelling to me. I can't look away.
It's a good reminder to me to (1) release the self-enforce pressure valve when creating, and (2) not overwork my paintings. I like the raw, rough quality of this face very much.
How about you? Do you do better when the pressure is off?
Thanks for stopping by!
She is not pleasing to my eyes but I need to look at her and wonder what hardness has effected her life. she smirks at what life has thrown at her and keeps on plugging away.
She is not pleasing to my eyes but I need to look at her and wonder what hardness has effected her life. she smirks at what life has thrown at her and keeps on plugging away.
She is not pleasing to my eyes but I need to look at her and wonder what hardness has effected her life. she smirks at what life has thrown at her and keeps on plugging away.
She is not pleasing to my eyes but I need to look at her and wonder what hardness has effected her life. she smirks at what life has thrown at her and keeps on plugging away.
She is not pleasing to my eyes but I need to look at her and wonder what hardness has effected her life. she smirks at what life has thrown at her and keeps on plugging away.
oh I really like her. She has a story to tell and a whimsical, I have lived long and know a lot look!
oh I really like her. She has a story to tell and a whimsical, I have lived long and know a lot look!
oh I really like her. She has a story to tell and a whimsical, I have lived long and know a lot look!
oh I really like her. She has a story to tell and a whimsical, I have lived long and know a lot look!
oh I really like her. She has a story to tell and a whimsical, I have lived long and know a lot look!
I really like her Julie… The shadowing/ shading is very realistic. She has great depth and a sense of realism to her… Bone structure in face is really nice… One of those things that you couldnt reproduce if you tried… Kwim?
I really like her Julie… The shadowing/ shading is very realistic. She has great depth and a sense of realism to her… Bone structure in face is really nice… One of those things that you couldnt reproduce if you tried… Kwim?
I really like her Julie… The shadowing/ shading is very realistic. She has great depth and a sense of realism to her… Bone structure in face is really nice… One of those things that you couldnt reproduce if you tried… Kwim?
I really like her Julie… The shadowing/ shading is very realistic. She has great depth and a sense of realism to her… Bone structure in face is really nice… One of those things that you couldnt reproduce if you tried… Kwim?
I really like her Julie… The shadowing/ shading is very realistic. She has great depth and a sense of realism to her… Bone structure in face is really nice… One of those things that you couldnt reproduce if you tried… Kwim?
I love the use of primary colors and, like you said, that the painting is not over-worked. Very cool! And, so true about good things happening when you take the pressure off. Yay!
I love the use of primary colors and, like you said, that the painting is not over-worked. Very cool! And, so true about good things happening when you take the pressure off. Yay!
I love the use of primary colors and, like you said, that the painting is not over-worked. Very cool! And, so true about good things happening when you take the pressure off. Yay!
I love the use of primary colors and, like you said, that the painting is not over-worked. Very cool! And, so true about good things happening when you take the pressure off. Yay!
I love the use of primary colors and, like you said, that the painting is not over-worked. Very cool! And, so true about good things happening when you take the pressure off. Yay!
Have you noticed….the eyes follow you no matter which way you lean.
Have you noticed….the eyes follow you no matter which way you lean.
Have you noticed….the eyes follow you no matter which way you lean.
Have you noticed….the eyes follow you no matter which way you lean.
Have you noticed….the eyes follow you no matter which way you lean.
Her eyes have sucked me right in. That is where my eyes are drawn and continue to be drawn. Fabulous! In answer to your question I do better under pressure. When there is no pressure I over think things, plan too much and in general mess around. When something must be completed the plan seems to come together and I like the ending result. This doesn’t work without some previous plan though with either Art or a Presentation things need to have at least a bit of a plan in my head.
Her eyes have sucked me right in. That is where my eyes are drawn and continue to be drawn. Fabulous! In answer to your question I do better under pressure. When there is no pressure I over think things, plan too much and in general mess around. When something must be completed the plan seems to come together and I like the ending result. This doesn’t work without some previous plan though with either Art or a Presentation things need to have at least a bit of a plan in my head.
Her eyes have sucked me right in. That is where my eyes are drawn and continue to be drawn. Fabulous! In answer to your question I do better under pressure. When there is no pressure I over think things, plan too much and in general mess around. When something must be completed the plan seems to come together and I like the ending result. This doesn’t work without some previous plan though with either Art or a Presentation things need to have at least a bit of a plan in my head.
Her eyes have sucked me right in. That is where my eyes are drawn and continue to be drawn. Fabulous! In answer to your question I do better under pressure. When there is no pressure I over think things, plan too much and in general mess around. When something must be completed the plan seems to come together and I like the ending result. This doesn’t work without some previous plan though with either Art or a Presentation things need to have at least a bit of a plan in my head.
Her eyes have sucked me right in. That is where my eyes are drawn and continue to be drawn. Fabulous! In answer to your question I do better under pressure. When there is no pressure I over think things, plan too much and in general mess around. When something must be completed the plan seems to come together and I like the ending result. This doesn’t work without some previous plan though with either Art or a Presentation things need to have at least a bit of a plan in my head.
She looks a bit weary (not wary.) But, maybe, that too!…around the eyes. I love her cheeks! Using yellow, instead of a “shadow” color like purple or blue?, to form them worked beautifully! Her smile seems enigmatic! I like her! 🙂 Well done. And, yes, when the pressure is off everything seems to just flow forth!
She looks a bit weary (not wary.) But, maybe, that too!…around the eyes. I love her cheeks! Using yellow, instead of a “shadow” color like purple or blue?, to form them worked beautifully! Her smile seems enigmatic! I like her! 🙂 Well done. And, yes, when the pressure is off everything seems to just flow forth!
She looks a bit weary (not wary.) But, maybe, that too!…around the eyes. I love her cheeks! Using yellow, instead of a “shadow” color like purple or blue?, to form them worked beautifully! Her smile seems enigmatic! I like her! 🙂 Well done. And, yes, when the pressure is off everything seems to just flow forth!
She looks a bit weary (not wary.) But, maybe, that too!…around the eyes. I love her cheeks! Using yellow, instead of a “shadow” color like purple or blue?, to form them worked beautifully! Her smile seems enigmatic! I like her! 🙂 Well done. And, yes, when the pressure is off everything seems to just flow forth!
She looks a bit weary (not wary.) But, maybe, that too!…around the eyes. I love her cheeks! Using yellow, instead of a “shadow” color like purple or blue?, to form them worked beautifully! Her smile seems enigmatic! I like her! 🙂 Well done. And, yes, when the pressure is off everything seems to just flow forth!
I love it! She looks like Gloria Steinem to me!
I love it! She looks like Gloria Steinem to me!
I love it! She looks like Gloria Steinem to me!
I love it! She looks like Gloria Steinem to me!
I love it! She looks like Gloria Steinem to me!
She is engaging And she has seen Much! I vote Yes!
Sally Veauta [Votaw] CA
She is engaging And she has seen Much! I vote Yes!
Sally Veauta [Votaw] CA
She is engaging And she has seen Much! I vote Yes!
Sally Veauta [Votaw] CA
She is engaging And she has seen Much! I vote Yes!
Sally Veauta [Votaw] CA
She is engaging And she has seen Much! I vote Yes!
Sally Veauta [Votaw] CA
Hay, your painting looks just like one of my daughters friends . The same cute smile and the tired look to the eyes. You couldn’t have gotten her better if you had her photo!
Hay, your painting looks just like one of my daughters friends . The same cute smile and the tired look to the eyes. You couldn’t have gotten her better if you had her photo!
Hay, your painting looks just like one of my daughters friends . The same cute smile and the tired look to the eyes. You couldn’t have gotten her better if you had her photo!
Hay, your painting looks just like one of my daughters friends . The same cute smile and the tired look to the eyes. You couldn’t have gotten her better if you had her photo!
Hay, your painting looks just like one of my daughters friends . The same cute smile and the tired look to the eyes. You couldn’t have gotten her better if you had her photo!
she has that mysterious look – I like it!! I have a canvas that I haven’t finished since the summer. I did the background and have a figure I want to add, but I just cannot finish. I redid her face and then I hated it. Maybe I should just add it on and see what my spirit moves me to do.
Yes, I do better under pressure, because I have a goal and the time limit!
Hugs, Julie,
Carmen L
she has that mysterious look – I like it!! I have a canvas that I haven’t finished since the summer. I did the background and have a figure I want to add, but I just cannot finish. I redid her face and then I hated it. Maybe I should just add it on and see what my spirit moves me to do.
Yes, I do better under pressure, because I have a goal and the time limit!
Hugs, Julie,
Carmen L
she has that mysterious look – I like it!! I have a canvas that I haven’t finished since the summer. I did the background and have a figure I want to add, but I just cannot finish. I redid her face and then I hated it. Maybe I should just add it on and see what my spirit moves me to do.
Yes, I do better under pressure, because I have a goal and the time limit!
Hugs, Julie,
Carmen L
she has that mysterious look – I like it!! I have a canvas that I haven’t finished since the summer. I did the background and have a figure I want to add, but I just cannot finish. I redid her face and then I hated it. Maybe I should just add it on and see what my spirit moves me to do.
Yes, I do better under pressure, because I have a goal and the time limit!
Hugs, Julie,
Carmen L
she has that mysterious look – I like it!! I have a canvas that I haven’t finished since the summer. I did the background and have a figure I want to add, but I just cannot finish. I redid her face and then I hated it. Maybe I should just add it on and see what my spirit moves me to do.
Yes, I do better under pressure, because I have a goal and the time limit!
Hugs, Julie,
Carmen L
I think that she is great Julie!! I am finding if you just let yourself go and be in the moment that the painting just flows out of you! I love the smirky smile as it indicates that she knows more then she lets on. She knows just how good you are even if you don’t!! LOVE your work!!!
I think that she is great Julie!! I am finding if you just let yourself go and be in the moment that the painting just flows out of you! I love the smirky smile as it indicates that she knows more then she lets on. She knows just how good you are even if you don’t!! LOVE your work!!!
I think that she is great Julie!! I am finding if you just let yourself go and be in the moment that the painting just flows out of you! I love the smirky smile as it indicates that she knows more then she lets on. She knows just how good you are even if you don’t!! LOVE your work!!!
I think that she is great Julie!! I am finding if you just let yourself go and be in the moment that the painting just flows out of you! I love the smirky smile as it indicates that she knows more then she lets on. She knows just how good you are even if you don’t!! LOVE your work!!!
I think that she is great Julie!! I am finding if you just let yourself go and be in the moment that the painting just flows out of you! I love the smirky smile as it indicates that she knows more then she lets on. She knows just how good you are even if you don’t!! LOVE your work!!!
I love her so much…too much for words! The cheeks are what drew me in and the coloring kept me staring in awe! I am going to have to try my hand at the coloring part in my journal…thanks for always being so inspiring and sharing your total AWESOMENESS with the world!
I love her so much…too much for words! The cheeks are what drew me in and the coloring kept me staring in awe! I am going to have to try my hand at the coloring part in my journal…thanks for always being so inspiring and sharing your total AWESOMENESS with the world!
I love her so much…too much for words! The cheeks are what drew me in and the coloring kept me staring in awe! I am going to have to try my hand at the coloring part in my journal…thanks for always being so inspiring and sharing your total AWESOMENESS with the world!
I love her so much…too much for words! The cheeks are what drew me in and the coloring kept me staring in awe! I am going to have to try my hand at the coloring part in my journal…thanks for always being so inspiring and sharing your total AWESOMENESS with the world!
I love her so much…too much for words! The cheeks are what drew me in and the coloring kept me staring in awe! I am going to have to try my hand at the coloring part in my journal…thanks for always being so inspiring and sharing your total AWESOMENESS with the world!
I love her also. She looks like she knows life all to well and has a sort of empathetic smile…it’s extroadinarily intriguing.
I love her also. She looks like she knows life all to well and has a sort of empathetic smile…it’s extroadinarily intriguing.
I love her also. She looks like she knows life all to well and has a sort of empathetic smile…it’s extroadinarily intriguing.
I love her also. She looks like she knows life all to well and has a sort of empathetic smile…it’s extroadinarily intriguing.
I love her also. She looks like she knows life all to well and has a sort of empathetic smile…it’s extroadinarily intriguing.