Lorna A Roberts

Utilising a photo from Unsplash, I’m now painting a picture of an older gentleman with a lucious black background. I chose it for the composition- being a little different from usual as it’s side on- and the use of space.

I used a grid app on my phone to help me draw out the outlines of the man’s face on my canvas board. Then I applied a little burnt umber to the surface. This was a bit too much and it covered too darkly for my own preference.

Anyhow, it sat like that from before Christmas, waiting its turn. Because I’m working in oils, the drying time, in Scotland, in mid-winter, is looong. At least a week, if I’m very lucky. So with portraits 11 and 12 in almost finished and half-finished condition and drying plus portrait 13 just started yesterday, I needed something new to get my teeth into.

So, I did the easy bit first. The black background. I debated using a mix of blue and burnt umber but thought, there’s an artificiality about the setting, lets go for the artificial black. This rolled on and looks great. If only it was always so simple!

Then I moved to the face. After my first few dozen strokes, I reminded myself to be more intentional. To try and place each stroke down with a position and purpose instead of randomly rubbing the paint down in the hope it’s doing the job.

As I finished up for the day (an hour is my top limit right now due to my brain…) my mother commented that the painting looked good. This is big. My mother rarely complements me on my painting. I couldn’t see it myself, I was too close. But, from a distance, with eyes squinting (or wearing my reading glasses) you can definitely tell it’s an older white gentleman with white hair and a blue shirt. Massive win!

I might go back in tomorrow as his cheeks and jawline are much darker in reality than I’ve done. Then I’ll leave it for a week plus to dry before grabbing my walnut oil and adding another layer to make it less ‘blocky’.