Secrets Mixed media portrait woman

Secrets
Well this turned out to be a very interesting experiment.  When I got interested in doing the mixed media portraits I found that in the journaling community many folks had been incorporating figure collages into their work.  One of the reasons why is they used this method is that didn't actually draw/paint portraits, but wanted figures or faces in their work.  Also by painting over the magazine image you get another image and I guess the rule is that if more than 40% of the picture or image was changed, then you are not plagiarizing their photo, work or ideas.

For someone beginning to paint portraits it is a good way to learn about shading the face, painting over a photo.  Especially in black/white, you really see the light and darks on the facial planes.  So this started out as a black/white photo in an ad from one of my junk magazines, on a bit thicker paper.

I put on the abstract background with acrylic using stencils (adding paint onto paper through the stencil to make design (this is the traditional way), and making negative stencils, paint section of paper and then wipe paint off using the stencil with baby wipes), pieces of napkins were also used.  I then collaged the figure from the magazine and painted her using acrylics.  Then I added the branches as the finishing touches.   From the look on her face I thought she looked like she was going shhhhh - like she had a secret.

Thanks much for stoping by and taking a look.

Comments

Joan Tavolott said…
Intriguing piece! I like the face with the unusual stenciled background. It is an interesting combination of elements and really works well.
October 26, 2018 at 9:35 PM
carol edan said…
If you cut a face out of an ad it's not plagiarizing , in my humble opinion. You are not taking the "work" just a piece. Great idea ! Love the spidery background! If the spider was a stencil you could go over the face as wall, what an interesting affect that would make!
October 27, 2018 at 3:04 AM
Nelvia said…
I guess I am on the dark side these days, reflection of what is going on and concern for my hubby. So eve though I didn't want it to come out dark, I think it is a bit, but maybe that adds a bit of mystery. Found I really like the look of negative stencil
October 27, 2018 at 9:43 AM
Nelvia said…
I don't want to get into any issues, but I think you are correct. I think too when you convert it to color you end up changing the image just because you might select different hair color, etc. But I am not going to try to sell it so hoping there shouldn't be any issues. The background branches were freehand, I did draw across her face with a pastel pencil, but then I didn't like it, you can see a bit on the forehead. I really am enjoying these.
October 27, 2018 at 9:45 AM
Mellowood Gallery said…
I really like this Nelvia. The combination of techniques and the colour choices work so well together. As for the plagiarism, it is a question many of us struggle with and never seem to find a definite answer - lol. I hope you hubby is ok ( mine has been having problems too) - have a great weekend.
October 27, 2018 at 12:28 PM
hmuxo said…
Wow!!! Very unique... I love the busy background...not sure if I can do the mixed media... I wouldn't even know where to begin!! Lol
October 27, 2018 at 8:20 PM
Sheila said…
Wow this looks so different from Instagram. I really like them both, but here the blue tones are more prevalent, and I am partial to blue. I love her pose and the textures, and the branches. It's wonderful through and through. It is moody yes, and there are shadows, but I don't think it is dark at all. The lights and darks are well balanced. Sending prayers and well wishes, Hoping all is well again soon.
October 28, 2018 at 2:52 AM
Joan Tavolott said…
Hope things are improving with your hubby! You definitely don't need another thing to worry about with all that is going on in this world lately. ((Hugs!))
October 28, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In The Garden acrylic painting Redo

Image
In The Garden Original painting Well, thankfully I have some folks who tell me what they think.  I value their objective opinions very much and appreciate that they feel strongly enough to tell me when they feel something is off.  In the original painting no one liked the addition of the yellow flower, and felt it pulled the eye and overshadowed the focal point.   Well, I sat on it a bit and starting playing with how I could work it back into the composition.  I wanted the third flower, but I couldn't just really dull down the yellow.  As you an see I ended up making it darker in shadows and then burying it into the foliage.  I like it better because it now looks, to me, like it is part of the picture instead of just being put on in the corner.  Moral of the story, fix it first because it is hard to come in and match colors later. What do you think of the changes - for better or worse? Thanks much for stopping by and taking a look.
Read more

Her Highness mixed media woman portrait

Image
Her Highness   I just absolutely loved the expression on this lady and knew I wanted to try to capture her elegance and serenity.  I knew that I didn't want an exact portrait and decided to try another mixed media piece.    I added blobs of paint and used my large scraper to make the areas of color.  Just put paint on a piece of watercolor paper.  Then I inscribed and mixed the colors together with the end of my brush and got all the wavy lines (in real life they actually stand up so there is a 3D effect to the background).  Where I thought I wanted the face I really scraped most of the paint off, and ended up with color blotches and tones, and if you look in the forehead you can sort of see the design that was left.  I thought it would add some variance to the skin tones. I also want to keep her very soft so I tried to stay in the pastel tones, even with the lips.   Once I got shadows and lights added in, and went over it with some skin tone and more blue colors I let
Read more

Magnolia Blossom acrylic portrait magnolia flowers

Image
Magnolia Blossoms Acrylic 11"x14" “Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do.”   - Bob Ross I thought this was a wonderful quote.  I don't know if it has happened to you, but people say, oh you are so talented.  Not true, couldn't be farther from the truth, although I am sure there are many artists who do possess that something extra, something special.  But for the most part for the rest of us, it is just a matter of studying,  learning your  tools and materials, practicing, and then start to trust your inner self.  I am on a journey to try to find my voice.  Not that I am a late bloomer, but I should have already found it, yes?  I guess what I am really looking for is the way I wish and want to paint.   Not necessarily how I have been doing it. I am pleased with this piece.  Many thanks to Sanne who put this wonderful reference piece up at PMP.  Personally I think Magnolias are just wonderful flowers.  They hav
Read more