Portrait of Alyssa, Part 1 (Patreon)

It is finally happening! I am releasing some of the projects that I make for myself as unguided paint-alongs.

I feel that this is very important for you to see in part because: not all good painting choices are rational. In the lessons that I create for you here on Patreon I make an intense focus on giving the rational, understandable, learnable advice. The importance of teaching/ learning this way cannot be overstated. Student and teacher both need to share a mutual language of painting that will allow them to communicate with and understand each other. There is another side to art making though.

Sometimes it is a feeling that compels you to make a choice or a change to your painting. A motivation that doesn't quite make it into the part of your brain that simplified into language. This is where the artist's taste is expressed and you don't necessarily need a logical explanation for it. Believe me, you will know if get it wrong- you will feel it.

In this painting I have painted as my taste compelled me to. There are still many logical, academic decisions made here that no doubt you will recognise from my more academic tutorials. There are also many moments where I simply painted from the heart. I hope that doesn't sound too new-wavey ;)

The palette I am using is, Flake white, Old Holland yellow-brown, vermillion extra, alizarin crimson, raw-umber/sepia-extra, and Ivory black.

Brushes are Utrecht manglon flat, Blick scholastic wonder white synthetic, Rosemary brush co. eclipse extra long comber.

Medium is cold pressed linseed oil from CCS art materials.

Paper is stonehenge stretched on panel primed with PVA size from Gamblin.