Head Sketches

Mr Heatherley 3

I generally do not like having to work with small heads, but in this picture I have no choice. Before committing myself to the smaller heads I like to work on a larger scale as part of the process of getting satisfaction with the smaller scale. Here are 3 larger scale oil sketches that I did to create reference material for the main picture. It is practically impossible to work on all 3 at the same time because it would demand an unfeasible amount of time from the sitters.

I committed myself to a new palette for this picture that I was working my way into. Principally, it is based on Yellow Ochre and Indian Red for the warms and Viridian and Alizarin Crimson for the cooler mixes, greys etc. I also used both Ultramarine and Phylo Blue for specific colours.

I am trying to get a balance between spontaneous brush work and a proper figurative image. Learning as I went along, the third picture of Guy was by far the most successful. I go too much green in Lily’s face and not enough pink in Fiona’s.