Wax Bloom

Colored Pencil & Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12″

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Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

For a first go with the medium, I’m pleased enough. And I liked working with the stuff enough that I’ll do another. I certainly feel a good deal more confident with it, and learned A LOT over the course of this painting – figuring out that I could do a colored wash over the opaque layers that already existed was a game changer. And a forehead slapper, too.

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Much closer to the finish line now…though I think I’ll do a yellow wash over it to tone down the darks.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 12"

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I’ve blocked in the values on the right side of the canvas though it obviously still needs a lot of work.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

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Spent about an hour with it this morning…finding myself liking it a good deal more, though my shadows have gotten far too red.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

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Feeling better about it… still trying to work out how I can incorporate colors other than browns into the shadows without overpowering it. If I can manage to keep those shadows dark and warm but not dirt colored I’ll be a lot happier.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

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Meh.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

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I think I’m starting to get the hang of these…I’m feeling better about the left side of the canvas, anyway. I’m getting a better handle on mixing colors as well, and seeing little tricks about getting details in like painting a fat, dark stroke and then hiding most of it with a lighter color once it dries, rather then fussing over getting a thin stroke from the beginning.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

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I am so, so lost with this painting business and it’s really causing me to miss my pencils.

The lack of control I have over the paintbrush resulting in an inability to do anything with any sort of detail is killing me. Colors aren’t interacting with each other they way they do with colored pencil (phthalo blue + burnt umber = blue mud, not a nice cool dark), I can’t figure out how to layer colors properly so they don’t take each other over… and on and on.

It’s very much like I know exactly what I need to do to make it right… but can’t. Its been frustrating. And yet, the challenge of it has me hooked.

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

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So bearing in mind that I’ve literally no idea what the hell I’m doing when it comes to acrylic paint, I give you my forehead:

Self Portrait VI | Acrylic on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

Apologies for the glare, it was still a bit wet when I took the photo.

I’ve no idea what sorts of techniques one might employ when working with acrylic, but I’m painting just like I did when I painted in oils. I’m mixing colors on the canvas, using wide, deliberate strokes and applying a medium (retardant and extender) liberally as I paint. It feels about right, though I can already see the rapid drying time taking some getting used to.

I like it so far though!

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