When I paint figures the work seems to matter more--I find that I'm more focused on the
process than when I am just drawing fancifully from my head or creating a still
life. And by "matter" I mean that the intensity is ratcheted up just a bit and
I just feel really invested in what I am doing. The flipside to all the
enthusiasm and focus I bring to the table is that I can be tough on myself when
figure painting.
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Model in a Hat by Leonid Gervits, 1998,
oil on cardboard, 22 x 20. |
I can easily get into a negative mindset when I think about
all the figure painting artists I know who are waaaaay better than me, and I
will slow down or sometimes stop painting entirely. Never mind that these
individuals are experts at figure painting because they are professionals full-time
artists!
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Pink Lady by Alex Powers.
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My greatest strategy for fighting off any negative vibes is
to really focus on painting figures like my role models would, which is why our
new, free ebook
Human Figure Painting
Tutorial: Painting Figures Like the Old Masters and Using Figure Paintings to
Express Your Feelings, is great. You'll find strategies from portrait
artist Leonid Gervits on techniques that go all the way back to Velazquez, plus how
to paint figures and faces to express feelings and opinions, and how to capture
the essence of an individual and not just a likeness. There's also tons of artwork
to inspire you, and you'll hear directly from the artists about what works and
doesn't work for them when they are painting figures.
All in all, if figure painting inspires you, but you are
like me and need a little help to get over any nerves, Human Figure Painting Tutorial: Painting Figures Like the Old Masters
and Using Figure Paintings to Express Your Feelings is a resource from
which you can glean tips and painting strategies to use every time you pick up
the brush. Download your copy now and enjoy!
P.S. If you have any art-minded friends or family who might find our eBook useful, be sure to forward this link to them. Thanks!