Torrit Grey 2008 Workshop

[Chris Saper]

Between the time I did my first demo, I became re-engergized about monochrome paintings after the development of this thread. So in my Prescott open studio group I decided to paint a monochrome, just using TG and mineral spirits, trying out a wipe-out method. Again, I used an inexpensive, acrylic primed canvas.

Here I place the head, locate the horizontals, and start to separate light and shadow.

[Chris Saper]

Step 2

In using a wipe out method, corrections are made by removing pigment, and putting it somewhere else.

Here's what happened when I tried to wipe out the TG, "wipe-out" being the operative phrase. I scrubbed and scrubbed, but the stain remained. Worse, I'd just killed off about an hour of open studio time, sigh.

[Chris Saper]

Step 3

The good news is that I've only ruined part of my canvas, so I start over just using black and mineral spirits.

[Chris Saper]

Step 4

The black doesn't wipe out a whole lot better, so I concede defeat on the wipe out thing for the day, and decide just to use black and white, and leave the TG for the end.

[Chris Saper]

Step 5

Finding the light, middle and dark values, I cover the surface with paint.

[Chris Saper]

Step 6

Working in smaller spaces, locating features.

[Chris Saper]

Step 9

Adding some lights.

[Chris Saper]

Step 10

At the last sitting of the session, I go for a little judicious TG, using it in the earring, part of the mouth, a bit in the shadow of the nose. When all is said and done, I've decided that the violet of TG should probably be referred to as "violent".

[Chris Saper]

We were extremely fortunate to have the artist Lisa Schubach as our model. As an accomplished painter, Lisa's input into the clothing and set up were instrumental in creating a set-up that had clean value separation and which lent itself to solid design opportunities from all angles.

Students made up several thumbnail sketches from their easel positions, spending a lot of time on composition.

Here is one view of Lisa in her pose. You can see how simple the value patterns are.

[Chris Saper]

Here's a pic of the class.