100 Heads: 1/100 Oil Portrait Study

Jay 1/100 Heads, Oil on primed paper

I’ve decided to challenge myself to practice working on more frequent short studies over the next few months.

The first study is a painting of my son. I had him sit for me while I did my best to speed paint. I decided to work on a sketchbook page already primed with PVA size and tinted gesso. My target was half an hour to one hour, but I ended up spending about two all in all.

Starting with a thinned down burnt umber mix I had left over on the palette, I began by sketching out the composition and proportions of the head and shoulders on the page, followed by the placement of the features.

Next I mixed some a shadow and light tone to give me a starting point. Starting with the darkest areas, I blocked in the made shaded areas, adjusting the tone and colour as I went. Then the lighter areas and mid tones. With the paint colours blocked in, I could start to pay closer attention to the temperature changes in different areas and look at refining the different planes of the face.

I’ll be aiming to complete #100heads over the months to come. I have THE WORST track record when it comes to challenges, so I’m not treating it as such, there’s no deadline, no timeframes. It’s just something I will quietly work on as and when. No pressure!