Independent Study: Figure Painting

This past semester at F&M I took an independent study in painting the human figure. In a little over 3 months, I completed 6 oil paintings ranging from 3' x 4' to 4' x 6'. Prior to this past semester, all of my figurative work was charcoal only: This was my first major dive into the color of the human form.

As with all of my work, I spend a great deal of time focusing on the physicality of my artwork. I feel that any significance or profundity my work might have comes naturally through the work process: Very infrequently do I start a work of art with its "meaning" in mind. The purpose of this series was to showcase my growth and approach to the subject matter over a short period of time.

 Pensive Man. My first completed painting in the series. Original is 4' x 3'.

Stab. Finished? Yes. I felt strongly about leaving this painting in a more linear form, showcasing some of the original and more energetic brush strokes. Original is 5' x 4'.

Self Portrait. Ha ha...This is my least favorite in the series...It's a self portrait! I think it looks painfully obvious that I'm hiding something in this pose...If I had gone for a more natural pose, it might have appeared less awkward. Then again, painting yourself on a 5' tall canvas is kind of tricky when you have to move to reach all parts of the canvas! Original is 5' x 3'.

 Collapse 4. Fall off of a 500 ft. cliff and freeze yourself where you land. Those were my key words for this pose and turned out to be a pretty fun set up! I have the habit of wiping my palette clean after every painting session, which is why my flesh tones are a little uneven. I mix new colors every time I paint...Perhaps I should actually save some? Original is 4' x 6'.

 Reclining. This is definitely my favorite in the series, and one of the last I completed. I feel that the model's cast shadow is one of the major highlights of the painting (Ha! That's sooo ironic). It's bold, yet incomplete, which adds a little mystique to it. Everything else is pretty strong too. Somehow I made the model's flesh appear wet when it really wasn't...weird. Original is 3' x 4'.

 Portrait of Steph. What pains me about this painting is that the photos I've taken can't seem to capture the true appearance of the painting! The face looks much, much better in person, not to mention that there's no pesky glare. Again, I deliberately left parts of the painting "unfinished," cause I rather like the interaction between the underpainting, finished layers, and turpentine run off. A little bit Hung Liu-like.

While this study is technically complete, I know for a fact that I will be unofficially adding to this series. I still need much more practice with the face and environments. Feel free to jump in and give your feedback, if you have any. I enjoy talking about the paintings, good and bad, immensely.