Update on "Maria"

Maria is coming along nicely. She looks a bit like a doll, but I like her facial expression. More work on the mouth and hair. 

Abstract portrait not ending up the way I planned...

I have been working on this painting the last few days. Nothing much, just a lot of paint in some colors I hardly ever use, to try to come out of my comfort zone.
It started out like this:

Then I thought it would be nice to add a face:

 I tried to keep it simple, but no matter how I tried, it ended up like this:

Of course it´s not finished, but I have this funny feeling that I have painted The Virgin Mary.... Being a pagan, thats a surprise! I wonder how it will end up? 

Update late sunday: 

Late update on The Guardian (part 5)

Link to part 1
Link to part 2
Link to part 3

Link to part 4

Just a quick update! I´m painting the medicin doll. I am trying to keep her pale, feminin look. I´m trying to create a celestial look, but not some pale vampire look ;-)  I´ll add some hair tomorrow. Sometimes the doll changes completely when it gets hair. I´m thinking long purple hair. What do you think?

Michelle´s portrait finished!

My daughter´s portrait painting is finished. This process has been soo much fun, because I have never ever painted anything like this, and I really like how it ended up!

As always it is painted on a streched canvas, with acrylic paint, and it measures 72x 65 cm.

Update 9/3-2014
I forgot to credit the artist that inspired this painting; http://www.ebay.com/itm/art-figurative-expressionist-painting-Mix-Lang-URBAN-Expressions-Original-Modern-/350769076547?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item51ab775943

Portrait almost finished!

This is my daughter's portrait. I don't think she quite likes it, but I think it is rather cool! I only need to paint hair and some minor details and then it's done! What do you think? 

Portrait update

I think the portrait from yesterday is finished.

New abstract painting workshop

This is my painting from the workshop. It´s my youngest daughter Selina Maria. 

I love taking painting classes! Today I was participating in a abstract portrait workshop, and it was so much fun! I am still struggeling hard with painting abstract, but somehow I think I´m getting closer to a personal "style" wich allowes me to use elements of different techniques, and combining them into my own blend.

This workshop was the same as this one, and I enjoyed it just as last time.

First I´ll show you some of my teacher Kirsten Mandø´s own paintings:

She is just soo talented! I´d wish I could paint like that one day.

Kirsten still wants us to practice drawing and painting a face. Use a thick sketchpad, cut portraits out from newspapers, and practice, practice, practice, and then you practice some more!
Okay then, I´ll start using my sketchpad more often:

Here are my own work in progress pictures from the day:

The background is the easiest. Just paint! No rules! Use anything to make a nice pattern!

I used masking tape, and painted on top of that too. Just remember to remove it straight after. I also let the paint run. That´s so much fun! 

I used some chalks to block in the face. Then just add some facial paint. 

As you can see, it´s not quite finished yet. I still need to work on the hair, the highlights, some minor details as her mouth and some shadows, but I think she is pretty much there. The funny thing about this painting is, that it´s not that abstract at all, but I guess that that is just the way I do it. At a pont, one must stop trying to fight one´s won style, and just go along with what come through. At the very least the background is abstract!

Here are photos from the other participants paintings (i´ts always interesting to see, right?)

Abstract portrait painting workshop!

Good evening!
Tonight I would like to share thoughts about a workshop I attended today. The theme was abstract portrait painting, and it was so much fun! I have a hard time with abstract painting. To me, it is difficult and un-natural. I much rather paint in my own style, but I am a strong believer in the fact that we must work outside our own comfort zone in order to develop our creativity, so I keep trying. My teacher says that abstract painting is the most difficult style to paint, and I agree!

Here is some "rules" from my school:

1. What do you want with your painting?
2. Let all your colors stay "open" (Keep painting with thin layers, so that they blend and stay transparent).
3. Cover everything you like with new paint.
4. Don´t isolate your favorite places on the canvas. Be prepared to change everything!

Fun eh? If there is something you like, hurry up and ruin it! Stay open in the creativ process, and let every door remaine open untill the very end. Really, really hard!

Our task was to paint abstract portraits on rather large canvases. First we was asked to paint a background fast and without thinking too much. Just choose some nice colors and have fun. 

Then we had to find a good photo. Our teacher uses mostly newspaper portraits. Why? Because they are mostly not taken by professional photographers, and therfor look´s more natural. 

Here are a few photos of my teachers own paintings:

So, that look´s really easy, right? Let me tell you a secret: IT WAS NOT! IT WAS BLOODY DIFFICULT!!!

Before I share pictures of my painting and the process, I´d like to share a good idea:

Make a portrait practice journal. My teacher had this big thick journal full of cut out photos from newspapers, and her own studíes:

I decided on the spot to do the same! A study of faces and expressions. When ever I get bored, I have several photos to work with.

Now over to my painting. I remembered to take some shots through the day, so here they are:

Background: red, yellow, orange and white colors.

I start by painting all the darker places.  Then I add the highlights.  

More work, now a little green and blue as contrast to all the red and orange. 

It is not really all that abstract, but it´s very different from what I usually paint. I think I like it. The woman look´s very much like my inner spiritual guide, a warrior-priestess called Karla. I especially like her green eyes and fierce expression. She has a lot of stenght, wisdom and courage! 

Tomorrow I´ll share more work with my doll, the witch Hannah! 

Some pictures from the other participants: