Painting the side profile

Lots of my paintings recently have been of models from the side, here are a couple below.
Something about the space our faces occupy form this angle interests me, the shape we cut into the background.

Komachi

 

 

                                                                                 Saras

                                                                          Matthew



Painting Matthew;
I had this big sheet of heavy watercolour paper, and had the urge to use it all to capture Matthew's interesting, understated pose. To begin with I used the watercolour paint loosely and with big sweeping strokes, this was great fun and quickly established Matthew's general position, some unexpected and exciting patterns began to emerge too. Watercolour paint really is irresistably absorbing. I often find that, by some fluke, the run of the paint corresponds with what I am trying to achieve, and I'm half way there.

Once the general sweep of the body was convincing enough I was able to really enjoy describing the skin on the face and hands. Being the only warm tones, they easily read as skin. Then I didn't need much to tie it all together, just a few descriptive lines here and there .

Thanks to Matthew who was so settled in himself throughout, and to Damian who insisted there was no need to 'do the chair'!
(This watercolour, of artists model, Matthew, was painted at Damian Callan's workshop at Wasps studios in Dalry.)