Sunday, November 16, 2008

City Walker aka Upside Down Walker

This is another of Karin Jurick's challenges on Different Strokes From Different Folks. We were given a photo reference with instructions to paint the painting upside down - well at least 90% of it anyway. So that is what I did! I didn't stand on my head or anything like that - just turned my reference upside down and painted. I did sketch the woman out upside down before blocking in the color color upside down but it was quite fun. I found I wasn't too concerned with what I was painting - just the shape.
Actually in the past, I've turned my graphite drawings upside down from time to time to see if I had gotten all the details or to see where I was off but I've never painted something from the start upside down.

I'm fairly pleased with the way it turned out except for the face. My velour board is only 5"x7" so the face is pretty small - couldn't get the nose and shape of the face with my fat pastel sticks so guess what - a gust of wind blew her hair in her face! I also changed the shadow a bit because in the reference photo it looked like she might have x-ray vision the with way the light appeared to be coming from her glasses and it creeped me out so I moved it. It's great to be an artist!
These challenges of Karin's are just that for me - a challenge. They are usually not subjects that I would paint but I'm learning something with each one and enjoying doing something different. Thanks Karin!

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Karen it turned out great, gust of wind to! ;) I also often turn work upside down to draw. Not sure if that is a left or right brain thing.

Karen Hargett said...

Thanks Toni! It's so good to see you drop by. Yeah I kept fiddling with her nose and it was getting all out of shape so poof a big wind came up and fixed it for me ;-)

Marsha Robinett said...

Karen,
What a challenge...the entire painting "upside down". Like you I turn mine around occasionaly for a purpose, but do the entire drawing that way must have really confused the brain.

By the way...your confused brain did a lovely job. You should be pleased (gust of wind and all). Really nice.

Karen Hargett said...

Hi Marsha,
Actually it was rather easy to paint upside down. Your brain seems to disengage from what it knows to concentrating on what you see. You should try it.

I'm glad you like the results :-)

Barbara Pask said...

Hi Karen, I think you did a wonderful job on this challenge. I did it too, fun to paint it upside down. Have you given up completely on oils? Just curious

Karen Hargett said...

Hey Barb - thanks so much. I'll have to go and check out your painting today too.

About oils - I thoroughly enjoy pastels - it's where my heart is. I'll probably dabble in oils from time to time though.

.. said...

Karen, nicely done! I love the ethereal feel!

Helen Read said...

OK, that was Me, not Wendolyn (my daughter), who left the last message. Sorry - I didn't realize she was logged on! I agree with "her" comment though!!

Karen Hargett said...

LOL! Thanks so much Helen aka Wendolyn - I do appreciate it. BTW I love your blog and your Christian Artist's statement! That is so good to see. Thanks for stopping by.

Jo Castillo said...

Hey, Karen, this is great. Love the movement you captured. You do super upside down work. :)

Karen Hargett said...

Hi Jo - thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you like this. It was fun working upside down.