A Color Study with Figuration

Color Study with Figuration 

Raw Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic

I began to experiment more on raw canvas today, which despite being difficult to control, I have really liked. I like the way the canvas absorbs the paint and allows for soft edges, and lines to be blurred together. I particularly like the way thin layers of paint lay on top of each other on raw canvas, you can see a transparent distinction between the layers, but at the same time they seem to fuse together more than they would on a primed surface.

I like organic shapes that are beginning to form the background texture here.

The figures of course are not very successful here, especially not the bent figure on the far left, but I am less concerned with accuracy and more concerned about the color and texture. I like the ideas behind the combinations of colors, however I think what I am trying to achieve could be executed better if I apply a lighter touch and less paint to start. I think what I have learned from this is that with my next project I will thin the paint more, and allow more time to dry between layers.

Besides the background textures, the blues here are my favorite part and I like the way light appears to be coming through, this is because I added some white to the paint but I think next time it would look better if instead of adding white, I allowed the canvas to shine through the paint for highlight. This too is an indication that I should be using less paint. I think I will look to carry some of the orange elements into my next painting as well, although if I use pinks alongside them I will attempt to keep them more separate than I did here.

I have cut up the painting here and collaged it over itself, experimenting with shapes and forms which I might be able to carry into my larger-scale later works.