An Oil Portrait...with FUN colors

As of now, this is my most recent work of art.  I was inspired by the same photo that I based my last post (Watercolor Self-Portrait) on.  Only this time, instead of using black and white watercolor, I decided to go in the completely opposite direction.  I opted for oils, which incidentally, take a LONG time to dry (especially if you use linseed oil with them, like I did).  I also opted for... (drumroll please)... 
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(oh, that's enough drum roll?  Okay then...)

COLOR!

I decided that I didn't really want this face to look traditional, that is with flesh tones, etc.  I wanted this face to be a kaleidoscope of color!  So that's what I did.  I used brighter colors for the parts of the face that would be lighter, and darker colors for areas that would be darker or in shadow.  Then I created the hair with some black "highlights" (or lowlights, as it is).  A what could be more beautiful than a bright, green lip?

A Watercolor Self-Portrait

You know, I've put several self-portraits on this blog already.  None of them really look like me.  So far, this is the closest I've come; it's from a picture from 3 years ago (my Sophomore year of college) and so, in reality, it really doesn't look like me now.  I did have a really fun time painting this though, especially with all the shading.  If you haven't guessed already, yes, this is another watercolor piece.  I tend to go through phases of art, where I focus more specifically on one thing for a period of time.  At the beginning of my art "career" it was sketching and drawing.  Then it was acrylic paints.  Next it was Sharpies, then a little bit of oils, and now watercolor (with the occasional other medium thrown in).  There's something so beautiful to me about watercolors.  Maybe it's the subtlety, or the transparency, or the way it just seems to flow.  I'm not entirely sure.  What I am sure of though, is that watercolors (I use watercolors from little tubes) are incredibly fun, and I encourage you to go and try them out.  You might just be surprised.  

Watercolor with a black gouache border. 

Myrtle Beach

These are the watercolors that I painted while I was in Myrtle Beach this last Spring Break.  I think that would put me in February of 2014... or was it March?  I don't know.  Either way, I painted them this year.  I think my faces have improved; at least I like the watercolor portraits much better than the faces I tried to draw.

People. Warning: NOT GOOD

I feel that I need to put a disclaimer on here: This artwork is practice only for drawing people.  They ARE NOT good and are just practice.  However, I hope that with more practice I will become better at drawing them.  Human faces are incredibly difficult to draw - they're so technical with all the proportions having to be just so.

Based off of my friend, Elizabeth

Based off a picture of myself from a long time ago

A really bad representation of my twin

Even worse representations of my twin... she does not look like this.

Really bad self-portrait

Practicing facial proportions

More practic

See here. This is not my video.

See above caption.

My other sister

Attempt at a self-portrait

Again, an attempt at a self-portrait...