Painting from Life

This is a painting I completed from last Saturday's life drawing (painting) session. It took a little over two hours to complete, with a few edits when I got back to my own studio.
I really enjoyed painting this; the model was very inspirational. Life drawing has been so beneficial, it really makes a difference in my work, in my opinion.
This is 12" x 16", oil on canvas, limited palette.

Waterhouse Study Complete!

A detail and the complete painting of The Mermaid by JW Waterhouse. I really took my time with this one, trying to get as much accuracy as possible. Also, I learned a great deal from this master study. It is 24" x 30", oil on linen.

A Painting from Life (and a detail)

A painting from life...alla prima...12" x 16", oil on canvas board

I am happy with this painting! I was concentrating on underlying structure, plane changes, and overall shapes more than anything else. There is a likeness there for sure, but I think I was so intrigued with my goal that I aged her at least ten-fifteen years!

Another Update on The Mermaid

Yet another update to this painting. I have been pretty happy with it throughout the time I have worked on it. I keep thinking I'm finished with it and then I see something that could be made better, and before I know it, hours have passed by and I'm still painting!
The face has been the most challenging, I think. Waterhouse's figures have a distinctive look about them, especially within their facial features. I hope that I have made a good effort :)

Life Drawing-Long Pose

I went to a life drawing session Saturday morning, and instead of numerous timed poses, it was just one long pose. This is 19" x 25", conte, charcoal, and white pastel.
This is the second life drawing session I have attended this year, and those two sessions were the first since I was in college. I feel like I am getting acquainted with working from life again, and it has already started to pay off in my work, I believe.
I hope to attend the sessions regularly, they are so beneficial.

My work has been steadily improving as of late. I am slowing down a bit and really taking time to observe my work and incorporate new knowledge into it. It's strange, I see a lot more "information" than I used to within subject matter. The "information" has always been there, it was my eye that wasn't attuned for it...

Another Update on The Mermaid

Another update to my rendition of Waterhouse's The Mermaid. I apologize for the glare in the photo, I took this picture while the paint was wet. Some things improved, some work still left to do...

A Quick One

A quick sketch I did the other day. I've been sketching, drawing, and painting every day, and I feel the consistency is really pushing me. This was just a study, to get main shapes and an overall impression of the woman and her form.