Painter's block

It finally happened, I should have known it would. I only started painting just over a year ago, and miraculously every painting I have done has turned out really well (in my humble opinion). Ok, some started badly (Paul McCartney), but I was able to make the appropriate alterations while painting and turn it into something I was very happy with.

Yesterday, I made my first terrible painting!

I was getting bogged down with choosing who to paint, so I picked up the first sketch I came across, Faye Wong (王菲), and decided to go for it. Transferring the sketch onto the canvas proved more difficult than I anticipated. I wasn't having much luck with pencil, so I decided to try sketching in the outline using a very thin mix of Burnt Umber paint. I was enjoying this method, and may use it again in the future, but I still couldn't get the likeness as close as the drawing. I figured it would sort itself out as I applied the colour.

Two hours later, The canvas was covered in paint and I seemed to be losing the likeness the more I painted, not to mention getting more and more frustrated. Maybe it was the pressure of my exams looming next week, or just a lack of adequate planning, but I soon realised that the painting was not going to be salvaged. It was time to cut my losses and whitewash the whole thing. My first failed attempt! Guess I'm not perfect after all!!!

Tags: painting art |drawmyface