5 MINI PORTRAITS (WATERCOLOUR PENCILS AND ACRYLICS)
Today I'm sharing some quick mini portraits. I made quite a few of these in the past week. I like to work on these mini portraits to keep in 'portrait art' shape while I work on landscape paintings. I often sketch these portraits in my smaller sketchbooks or I just sketch many small ones (on the same page) in my larger sketchbook. You had a change of seeing some of these mini portraits in my last post (the focus was on crepe eggs, but if you remember I included some mini portraits as well). Sometimes I also like to thrown in elements from my other illustrations, for example borrow roses from another painting I did. It saves me time not having to paint the roses every time. It also works well with placing these illustrations of products. I think it makes these portraits look more pattern appropriate when I use them to create patterns for my Redbubble shop. I'm also worried that if I just uploaded these mini portraits without these floral additions or a background of some sort, they wouldn't look so good in pattern form. Not that there is much demand for my work printed on products, but it's good practice in designing.
In comparison to landscape paintings, these mini portrait illustrations take only a small portion of my time (half an hour tops and sometimes only a few minutes). Speaking of landscape paintings, I decided to start a new art challenge. I'm very much interesting in seeing how many of those landscape paintings I can get out in a month. I'm trying to paint 7-8 hours every day (not counting in the time it takes me to set paints, clean up brushes, do research and find a reference), just counting painting time. Painting eight hours a day is actually not as impossible as it seems. If you take for example that it took me approximately one hundred hours to paint the last large seascape I worked on, you can easily see how a painting like that would take at least a few hours a day over the course of a few weeks. Naturally, it all depends on the style I'm using. More realistic or surrealist paintings typically take a lot more time. When I'm doing something for the first time (and that's often enough), that takes a lot of time as well. Now, let me show you these mini portraits that didn't take much time.
MINI PORTRAIT #1. A GIRL WITH RED HAIR
MEDIUM: WATERCOLOUR PENCILS ON PAPER
MINI PORTRAIT #2: A GIRL WITH PINK HAIR
MEDIUM: WATERCOLOUR PENCILS ON PAPER MEDIUM: ACRYLIC PAINTS ON PAPER
MINI PORTRAIT #4: A GIRL WITH BLUE HAIR
MEDIUM: ACRYLIC PAINTS ON PAPER
SOME THOUGHTS ON ART MAKING AND LEARNING
Often I learn by trial and error. I think we all do, but I also think it makes sense to get as informed as you can. Art is one of those areas in life you cannot know too much about. You don't have to discover everything by yourself. That being said, mistakes can't be completely avoided. You just have to work with them and through them. Some things you do have to discover by yourself. Learning about art reminds me a bit of language learning. There are many approaches one can take, but the important thing is to be consistent with your work. So, that is what I'm trying to do. I mean sure I'm watching all the art tutorials that I can find (some of them are amazing). While attending art classes was an option, I was doing that, but now I have to rely on online learning. I might invest in an online art course some time in the future, but right now I'm just focusing on developing my techniques. Nevertheless, I think art tutoring and guidance really helps. Fortunately there is a lot of online guidance and resources out there. I'm trying to make use of them, but I also want to really put in the hours. So, I'm starting this challenge. I'm already spending a lot of time painting but it's nice to have it written down as a proof of some kind.
Thank you for visiting and commenting. Have a lovely day.
Me encanto los últimos retratos . Cada vez lo haces mejor. Eres muy buena artista. Espero que estés mejor de salud. Te mando un beso
ReplyDeletegracias
DeleteSo do you make those roses separately? This is such an interesting process to see. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes, the roses are drawn with traditional media but I add them up with Paint 3D if that makes sense.
DeleteOh, you are so busy. 8 hours! I can see your passion! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteChe belli, sei bravissima! Non solo i visi, ma anche quelle rose sembrano vere!
ReplyDeleteKisses, Paola.
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DeleteThese are just wonderful, I love the girl with the green hair! x
ReplyDeleteThank you Vix
DeleteLovely portraits ❤
ReplyDeleteDzijekuje Kinga
Deletedzijekuje
ReplyDeleteI've done miniature landscape paintings, and most of my Zentangles are small - it feels good to be able to make something and finish it in one sitting. The lady with the green hair is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteLove the mini portraits! I too love the the green-haired lady the most!
ReplyDeleteMy stepdaughter creates miniature art, and I think it's delightful.
As for your challenge to paint 7-8 hours a day, that truly shows how dedicated to your art you are! xxx
Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThese are great. Loving the colourful hair :-D
ReplyDelete