Heather Bleasdell's photostream

Acrylic on board 12" x 12"
* instructor feedback appreciated - thank you

Gouache on 12" x 12" board
Color Choices: chartreuse, deep blue, muted grey/blue and white

This was my first experience using gouache on a board and mixing colors. I started with the chartreuse and it definitely got muddy. Practice, practice, practice.

* critical feedback welcome *

Acrylic on 12" x 12" board
Inspiration: Maira Kalman's portraits

** Critical Feedback Please**

I have only used acrylics a handful of times, so it's been fun and frustrating to learn how to mix colors and fumble through layers. I am still using my fingers a lot (wish I had more size choices) and I had a lot of fun painting the dirt on his face. I had planned on using some graphic elements for the wine bottle/glass to avoid painting "glass" but ended up going for it (hard!!) The painting wanted to be way more detailed than Maira's work, so I guess I have to figure out this mixing colors/layering thing, before I can simplify.

SUBJECT: This is a portrait of my husband after he tore down an old barn to salvage the wood. He is never more happy than when he is covered in dirt, sporting a few scratches, drinking wine, in his garden. I put his wine glass atop his compost pile... which is usually covered in Sweet Peas. Read more here: heatherbleasdell.typepad.com/heather-bleasdell/

Step 1 - play with acrylics. I painted over my first few tries until I got a feel for the acrylics. I used brushes, a palette knife-like tool and my fingers.

Acrylic on 14x11 board
I am new to acrylics, but I sure had a lot of fun fingerpainting the patchwork underneath.