FPM #9: Sunny Sammi begins to pop

Sammi - work in progress
5" x 5" acrylic on canvas
©Xan Blackburn 2012

Fall Portrait Marathon, Sammi 


Sammi's portrait is zipping along now.  Even though he's such a subtle guy (except for his exuberant personality, of course!), some truly deep darks are necessary to make his light face have dimension, to POP it out of the background.  So, in I go, with my Payne's gray and my raw umber and my ultramarine blue, punching and pushing bits forward and backward.  I was telling H the other day that when I'm really in the Zone, it feels as if I'm actually sculpting something plastic, like clay, smooshing and poking, pulling up and smoothing actual three-dimensional substance, rather than dabbing or stroking over a flat surface.  It's cool.  Almost hallucinogenic or dream-like.  Sometimes, as when you wake from a dream, the effect isn't quite as I'd imagined it, but it's still a fun state to be in, and does result in a better painting or drawing.

Next, I'll be laying in more yellow-browns, some more background colors, and then the white to tie it all together, and make that bit of magic happen.