As I mentioned yesterday, last week I took a week-long "Expressionistic Figure Painting" workshop at The Art Students League with artist Barbara Yeterian. We worked on our paintings in twenty-minute increments and I took photos at each breaking point.
And here is a closer look at the final painting:
I learned a lot working on this painting. Most notably, I discovered how important a background can be to setting the mood of the painting. Also, as I've mentioned before, I struggle with hands and profiles and while neither the hands nor the profile are perfect in this painting, they're both communicating — which is the most important thing!
Thanks for stopping by!
It’s beautiful! I love the colors, and the expression on the woman’s face is amazing! Thanks for sharing the process, too, I’m always fascinated with everything you go through, and I can imagine how scary it must be (for me it always is!) to decide to paint over and over (the background, for example).
It’s beautiful! I love the colors, and the expression on the woman’s face is amazing! Thanks for sharing the process, too, I’m always fascinated with everything you go through, and I can imagine how scary it must be (for me it always is!) to decide to paint over and over (the background, for example).
It’s beautiful! I love the colors, and the expression on the woman’s face is amazing! Thanks for sharing the process, too, I’m always fascinated with everything you go through, and I can imagine how scary it must be (for me it always is!) to decide to paint over and over (the background, for example).
It’s beautiful! I love the colors, and the expression on the woman’s face is amazing! Thanks for sharing the process, too, I’m always fascinated with everything you go through, and I can imagine how scary it must be (for me it always is!) to decide to paint over and over (the background, for example).
It’s beautiful! I love the colors, and the expression on the woman’s face is amazing! Thanks for sharing the process, too, I’m always fascinated with everything you go through, and I can imagine how scary it must be (for me it always is!) to decide to paint over and over (the background, for example).
I love how in the detail of the background you can see all the layers of color. Very nice!
I love how in the detail of the background you can see all the layers of color. Very nice!
I love how in the detail of the background you can see all the layers of color. Very nice!
I love how in the detail of the background you can see all the layers of color. Very nice!
I love how in the detail of the background you can see all the layers of color. Very nice!
It is so fascinating to watch the progression of artwork take place. I love watching all the layers and the undercolors that you wouldn’t expect. Great job.
It is so fascinating to watch the progression of artwork take place. I love watching all the layers and the undercolors that you wouldn’t expect. Great job.
It is so fascinating to watch the progression of artwork take place. I love watching all the layers and the undercolors that you wouldn’t expect. Great job.
It is so fascinating to watch the progression of artwork take place. I love watching all the layers and the undercolors that you wouldn’t expect. Great job.
It is so fascinating to watch the progression of artwork take place. I love watching all the layers and the undercolors that you wouldn’t expect. Great job.
Wow! This is amazing. You did a great job. You are so brave!
Wow! This is amazing. You did a great job. You are so brave!
Wow! This is amazing. You did a great job. You are so brave!
Wow! This is amazing. You did a great job. You are so brave!
Wow! This is amazing. You did a great job. You are so brave!
Wonderful! And before I even read your comments at the end, I thought that the hands were a focal point and the ‘message’ of the painting. And I remembered that you didn’t like to do hands (neither do I) — so, this really works and you made it work. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful! And before I even read your comments at the end, I thought that the hands were a focal point and the ‘message’ of the painting. And I remembered that you didn’t like to do hands (neither do I) — so, this really works and you made it work. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful! And before I even read your comments at the end, I thought that the hands were a focal point and the ‘message’ of the painting. And I remembered that you didn’t like to do hands (neither do I) — so, this really works and you made it work. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful! And before I even read your comments at the end, I thought that the hands were a focal point and the ‘message’ of the painting. And I remembered that you didn’t like to do hands (neither do I) — so, this really works and you made it work. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful! And before I even read your comments at the end, I thought that the hands were a focal point and the ‘message’ of the painting. And I remembered that you didn’t like to do hands (neither do I) — so, this really works and you made it work. Thanks for sharing.
Stunning!
Stunning!
Stunning!
Stunning!
Stunning!
Beautiful, Julie! I love the depth of your subjects, while maintaining the expressionistic quality –they are really there, not just flat on the canvas. All the brushstrokes and the texture of the canvas plus paint is luscious!
Beautiful, Julie! I love the depth of your subjects, while maintaining the expressionistic quality –they are really there, not just flat on the canvas. All the brushstrokes and the texture of the canvas plus paint is luscious!
Beautiful, Julie! I love the depth of your subjects, while maintaining the expressionistic quality –they are really there, not just flat on the canvas. All the brushstrokes and the texture of the canvas plus paint is luscious!
Beautiful, Julie! I love the depth of your subjects, while maintaining the expressionistic quality –they are really there, not just flat on the canvas. All the brushstrokes and the texture of the canvas plus paint is luscious!
Beautiful, Julie! I love the depth of your subjects, while maintaining the expressionistic quality –they are really there, not just flat on the canvas. All the brushstrokes and the texture of the canvas plus paint is luscious!
I like the first and the last ones. The colors you chose are wonderful.
I like the first and the last ones. The colors you chose are wonderful.
I like the first and the last ones. The colors you chose are wonderful.
I like the first and the last ones. The colors you chose are wonderful.
I like the first and the last ones. The colors you chose are wonderful.
Julie, I loved seeing the progression as you developed this painting. -sus
Julie, I loved seeing the progression as you developed this painting. -sus
Julie, I loved seeing the progression as you developed this painting. -sus
Julie, I loved seeing the progression as you developed this painting. -sus
Julie, I loved seeing the progression as you developed this painting. -sus
Fascinating! Loved seeing how it grew and changed and kept getting deeper and richer. I think I am always tempted to stop too soon.
Fascinating! Loved seeing how it grew and changed and kept getting deeper and richer. I think I am always tempted to stop too soon.
Fascinating! Loved seeing how it grew and changed and kept getting deeper and richer. I think I am always tempted to stop too soon.
Fascinating! Loved seeing how it grew and changed and kept getting deeper and richer. I think I am always tempted to stop too soon.
Fascinating! Loved seeing how it grew and changed and kept getting deeper and richer. I think I am always tempted to stop too soon.
I’d call that a ‘serious discussion’. Well done.
I’d call that a ‘serious discussion’. Well done.
I’d call that a ‘serious discussion’. Well done.
I’d call that a ‘serious discussion’. Well done.
I’d call that a ‘serious discussion’. Well done.
Very nice! The color is beautiful. Even your hands look great :-). Do you ever do animals in your classes?
Very nice! The color is beautiful. Even your hands look great :-). Do you ever do animals in your classes?
Very nice! The color is beautiful. Even your hands look great :-). Do you ever do animals in your classes?
Very nice! The color is beautiful. Even your hands look great :-). Do you ever do animals in your classes?
Very nice! The color is beautiful. Even your hands look great :-). Do you ever do animals in your classes?
Never
Never
Never
Never
Never
I have just stumbled on your blog and really love this painting. I love how you take us through all the big stages, it’s such a great piece, the colors so great, full of energy!
I have just stumbled on your blog and really love this painting. I love how you take us through all the big stages, it’s such a great piece, the colors so great, full of energy!
I have just stumbled on your blog and really love this painting. I love how you take us through all the big stages, it’s such a great piece, the colors so great, full of energy!
I have just stumbled on your blog and really love this painting. I love how you take us through all the big stages, it’s such a great piece, the colors so great, full of energy!
I have just stumbled on your blog and really love this painting. I love how you take us through all the big stages, it’s such a great piece, the colors so great, full of energy!
The hands are perfect…you are getting them down great Julie! As for the profile, it is getting better too. Maybe it is the slant of the forehead and the bridge of the nose…that is what I struggle with when drawing profiles.
The hands are perfect…you are getting them down great Julie! As for the profile, it is getting better too. Maybe it is the slant of the forehead and the bridge of the nose…that is what I struggle with when drawing profiles.
The hands are perfect…you are getting them down great Julie! As for the profile, it is getting better too. Maybe it is the slant of the forehead and the bridge of the nose…that is what I struggle with when drawing profiles.
The hands are perfect…you are getting them down great Julie! As for the profile, it is getting better too. Maybe it is the slant of the forehead and the bridge of the nose…that is what I struggle with when drawing profiles.
The hands are perfect…you are getting them down great Julie! As for the profile, it is getting better too. Maybe it is the slant of the forehead and the bridge of the nose…that is what I struggle with when drawing profiles.