After 2 Days At The Office

For the last 2 days, I've been doing some contract work for the company I used to work for.  I spent both days back in my old cubicle, at my old desk, doing my old job of drafting.

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One of my friends laughed at me because the first thing I did was change the desktop background to something artsy.  He said, It says a lot about a person when they have to do that before they can work, especially when they're not even going to see it!  

You are definitely an artist! 

We laughed. :)

I have to say, I did have a lot of fun.  
It was good to see everyone and catch up with them.  I also do like drafting.  In some ways, it's like painting...it is easy to get immersed in what I'm doing and forget time...or forget to eat, for that matter. 

After 2,  9-hour days in the office, I really really missed my studio.  
So, today....I'm going to paint! 

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If you follow me at all, you will see that I tend to hop from "fun and fancy free" to more "serious" art.  (It's all serious, but some is just, Wow, this is fun!  While others touch on values like freedom, hope, and joy, life, transformation, etc.  This was on the more serious side.)

I recently saw the movie Mad Max: Fury Road.  Loved it!!  I couldn't wait to see what creative invention was coming next :)

I was also very inspired Charlize Theron as Furiosa.  

There was a point at the beginning of the movie when I saw something in her eyes.
I saw a meeting, a joining, a place where Hope meets Desperation.  
Her eyes were on fire!

It inspired me so much, that I wished I were a portrait artist!

So, naturally, I decided to try.  I get in trouble with that so much!...that's how I ended up working as a drafter....anyway...

I have painted a couple of portraits before, and I did a self-portrait mosaic quite a while ago.  So this is not my first attempt.  Read on if you are interested in my artistic process.

My Process

I decided to make a "study".  That's artist speak for practice.  I set my intention to think of it only as practice.  That means it doesn't have to be perfect, or "professional".  This way, I feel I have complete creative freedom to work on it, make mistakes, or even make a 'bad' painting.

I started by prepping a canvas with gesso, then making an abstract background that I was happy with.

As you may know, I am trying to learn to draw, and I have a long way to go. 

I believe in using the tools you have, so I didn't let that stop me.  I printed out this photo, and traced...yes, traced!...Furiosa's features, and outlined highlights and shadows.  Kinda scary looking!

Next, I chose colors.  I wanted to create an earthy feel, sort of grungy and apocolyptic, like the movie.  So I chose Prussian Blue, Naples Yellow, and Burnt Umber.

As I worked through the painting, focussing on lights and darks, I gravitated toward a blue toned color palette.  The painting became almost monochromatic.

As I paint, I take time to step back and look at the piece.  I take process shots along the way.  Looking at it from different angles and distances, or through a camera helps me see what needs to be changed.  Here, I can see that the right corner distracts from the focal point.

I saved the eyes for last.  For me, they are the most important, and most difficult part of the painting.  I wanted them to really stand out.  

The whole goal of this painting was to capture the intersection where Hope meets Desperation in her eyes.

Charlize Theron as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road Abstract Portrait by Jessica Sanders 12x12"

Finished!  I don't know yet if I captured that feeling.  What do you think? 

With Much Love and Gratitude,

Jessica

P. S.  If you enjoyed this post, please like, share, or even join my mailing list!  Thanks!

P. S. S.  Bonus Pic!!  

A peek into my studio. Lights, camera, action!