Happy Thanksgiving!

May you enjoy a day of peace and celebration for family, health and gathering together and take some time to reflect and give thanks for the ancestors of your past.

Gloria Progression

Once I got into the pattern, I took more regular pictures of Gloria as my work progressed.  You could think of these like the "Highlights for Children" Hidden Pictures challenge.  (That used to be the best part of going to the doctor's office!)

I think there are a couple of other walking patrol officers in different neighborhoods of the Chicago photographs - both men and women.  Gloria has the most dramatic attitude, however (probably why I selected her to sketch, then paint first!) 

So, did you find the minor differences from one image to the next? 

Gloria

One of the challenges with almost all of the Chicago photographs is the flat affect of the people being photographed.  A few are clearly disgusted, a few are flashing gang signs, and few are billowing smoke (like the "T'was the Nigh Before Christmas" reference to Santa's smoke wreath,) but most are just standing like a statue. 

I wanted to sketch and paint the image of Gloria because personality exudes from her photograph.  I think the equipment helps and the work-uniform attire, but her hair style, reflective glasses and stance all convey a strong presence.

I apologize for not capturing the initial stages of her sketch - which I do not believe was done using red pencil. 

It is clear that Gloria wants her photograph to convey a readiness to get to work - she is about business! 

Camille 3

It was amazing to me that the addition of the whispy curls in Camille's hair really popped her volume and depth.....I like it. 

Once again, I continue to learn something new with each new sketch and painting that I work on.

I love the hardware that is dangling on the handles of Camille's handbag.  Interestingly enough, I think the light bouncing off of these shapes also contributes to the depth of that side of the painting.  I think they are just embellishment for her bag, unlike the key chains that make up the hardware on my purse! 

Even though I signed the work, I decided Camille needed a little additional sunlite-reflection on the left hand side of her face.  I think it could have gone a little further, and if this would have been a full-blown canvas painting, I would have continued the work.  Because this was supposed to be a quick work (ha ha ha,)....

I decided to stop.....always a challenge for me on a work......when to STOP!

Camille with Enhanced Lighting

The purple next to the ochre gold creates a clear edge between Camille and the background - the purple could be just a little lighter, but there is a fine line between too light and lost. 

I did continue to take liberties with Camille's color scheme to add depth and richness of color.  Making both her blouse and purse loden green, for example, push the contrasts, as well.  The grey highlights in her hair lend depth, as well, although I did not take liberties here.

I wanted the trousers to be black, but used the blue to show the lighting from the right.  Her face and hands already included the effects of lighting, so it made sense to continue to push the effects.  Adding the lighter purple to the exterior coat has worked to this point because of the lighting on the pants, shoes, face, hands, hair and handbag.....best to include the glasses in the lighting mix, as well!

Camille

I decided to sketch Camille with the red pencil, as suggested by the Strathmore artist in the third workshop.  This provided a good opportunity to see if I really want to continue to work in this way or go back to the traditional graphite that I am familiar with.

I am also going to experiment with some color variations using gouache paints.

I began laying in the background, which a different color that the dolphin grey present in all of the photographs.  It is already interesting to me that the tones of ochre gold in the background make the unpainted areas look grey and not the tan tone that they really are.  The proximity of colors and the changes that occur continue to be intriguing to me!

The addition of skin tones does not seem to warm the appearance of grey, either.

It's time for some color wheel compliment exploration! 

Pilsen

"Hello!" to Otoneil.  This man was such a dapper dresser.  His dress trousers are a pale ochre gold color, and have just been pressed (or at least have that look.)  His boot were ostrich skill and shiny, ochre gold and the belt buckle was either gold or polish brass and looked recently polished.  This is one of the rare occasions in the Chicago photo files when I got the impression that there was some advanced notification so participants could come prepared.

Otoneil was clearly ready to be photographed. 

Below are three characters you have seen before....or if you are new to this blog, you could go back and discover short progressions to each of the following images.  The beauty of these four sketches lies in the fact that all were taken from photographs in the same neighborhood in Chicago - the Pilsen Neighborhood.

I am beginning to have enough sketches that I can group them by the neighborhood in which they reside - will, that's probably a tremendous assumption.  I should probably say, the neighborhood in which their image was captured by the photo team on the day of their visit. 

If I knew Chicago better, I might better understand the community organization.  It is clear by looking at the images, that some neighborhoods have a stronger ethnic cohesiveness than others; that is part of what makes these images so interesting and valuable to me is that the diversity and variety of people provides a rich pool of subjects to sketch! 

 The more I sketch, the more I learn!  Have you read Malcome Gladwell's, "The Tipping Point"?