Shared Spaces '19

Shared Spaces 2019

Shared Spaces is an annual art show run and set up at Nazareth College. Local Art Teachers pair up with seniors at their respective schools, and produce a piece of art work. The pieces can have a common theme or not.

This year I picked Shawn Turner as my student for the show! Shawn was working on his portfolio which had a very strong "family" and "heritage" theme. We struggled with an idea and after few sessions I decided we needed to do portraits, and of a family member. Shawn picked his mother as the subject and I selected my grandmother.

Process

I started "Attempt #1" after a very successful painting demo in one of my classes. I just dove in and started to paint. I was splashing paint around, got into a nice groove. I then brought the piece home and worked the whole weekend on it! I was struggling with a direction, and with a solid piece of reference to work from. I eventually contacted the photographer who took my grandmothers original photo and got a high resolution image instead! After battling this painting all weekend I got to school and started all over!

In comes "Attempt #2".
1) I sketched a better starting point, which is always a good idea. Good bones make for a good painting!
2) I added in a nice base painting of Phthalo Blue getting my values correct.
3) I taped off the Yankee pinstripes, added some accent colors and layer upon layer of watery, drippy paint to give the final painting some depth and contrast!