Week 17?

 We've entered the third module in Let's Face It 2025  and I'm pleased with how it's going so far. Some weeks have been better than others but I'm pretty sure I've learned something in each...even if it's, "Nope! I did NOT like that!" And let's face it, (hah! see what I did there?!?) knowing what you don't like is just as valuable as what you do.

This one (above) for example, supposed to be done with gouache but I don't have any and wasn't prepared to purchase any, using acrylics but tried to emulate Judd Mercer's instructions anyway. Very enlightening and got as close to letting the brush marks stay without smoothing as I've gotten so far. 

You might ask why that's important to me and it's a fair question. Many non-artist folks seem to really like the smooth paint look and I attribute that to most wanting "as close to a photo as possible" vibe. And I do get it. Because it's how we see so much of our world these days. So. Many. Screens. Only, painting is painting. Photography is photography. Let's celebrate each for what they can bring to the table shall we? And hey! If you don't want to? Totally your prerogative but I LIKE seeing the brush marks and strokes. To each his...or her (or their)... own.

Module 2 contained an assortment of portraits and processes. Here's a selection from some of the NINE lessons:

 

Watercolour and drawing with Dylan Sara, who I've continued to follow over on his Daily Portrait Practice YouTube channel which I've found immeasurably helpful! Aren't they just an amazing couple?

Oil (though I used acrylic) with Sarah Sedwick which I had THE hardest time with but ended up really appreciating the struggle and I think, it was one of the classes that has elevated my work.

I loved getting into the reflections of these glasses from Rose Cameron's lesson. Again, I felt the process helped me to learn how to paint what I see vs what I know. Which is soooo much easier to say than do!

And my final Show and Tell is this lovely calm portrait from Manu De Mey's Bonus Lesson. Maybe a little more in my mixed media wheelhouse and I loved how she turned out.

So. Learning lots....TONS...and we're only just getting started!