To this page i add practice pieces. I use tutorials and experiments to get better and more in control of my paintbrushes and colors.
Big hand
Copying to learn skin tones, from Javier Arizabalo, who makes incredible realistic oil paintings. In this painting i use raw sienna, white and red oxide for the skin, but also create a slightly purple color, for the reflective light underneath the hand. I found this really worked in making the skin tones more realistic. Looking at Javiers work, he is incredibly detailed, and you can see the lines, hairs and pores. I am not yet at that standard, and i am happy with my rougher and bolder style.
Will Kemp Artschool
I found some excellent acrylic paint tutorials the other day by Will Kemp on his site http://willkempartschool.com/.
They are very technical, and give a lot of awesome color theory and tips along the way. After playing with intuitive painting for a few months, I thoroughly enjoyed these tutorials, it was such a contrast. It has a lot of parallels to climbing: you work on redpointing a project, carefully learning each move as you progress, sitting on the rope a lot. Simultaneously, you work on onsighting, going fast, having only one go and nothing to loose. To different ways of mental approach to the climbing, two totally different approaches in painting, both complementing each other and moving you forward.
I will continue to work both ways, and here i have a place to add the work, as a reference for myself and the progress I make.
Using only three colors: Utlramarine, Burnt Sienna and Titanium White.
http://willkempartschool.com/how-to-paint-a-warm-cool-still-life-painting-using-only-2-colours-part-3/
Learning about reflected light to make objects pop.
http://willkempartschool.com/how-to-acrylic-paint-light-and-shade-part-3/