I'm currently working on two projects simultaneously, both in the photo-realistic technique. (Heck I don't even know the English term for it, but it'll do). It sounds rediculously simple; you take a photo, divide it into squares and copy it onto a surface as large as possible. When seen from a distance, the result will look more or less like a photo. But the process of painting it is not as straight forward!
First of all, after 6 hours of painting your back is aching and your eyes sting from concentrating too much, and you look up and discover that you've managed to fill 7 squares out of 100. (Some teachers have told me that in order to achieve the right effect you have to paint each square separately - so that you're able to distance yourself from the motive and not get too caught up in the details) I experienced that first hand this week as I clearly was a little over-ambitious and convinced myself I'd have it finished by Friday. Nope. By Friday afternoon the painting was nearly half finished and I felt like I'd been thrown off a horse.
Second of all, there are so many decisions to make - dry brush, wet brush? Retarder or no retarder? round brush, flat brush, thick or thin brush? I'm still inexperienced so I get a little freaked out by all these decisions but I guess that later on it will be a little easier.
But the joy of this technique is to see each square fit together and reveal the motive little by little. It's a lot like doing a jigsaw puzzle, only you can't unscramble it and put it in a box when it's finished, thank God.
I'm looking forward to finishing the painting at home, and I'm also very excited about the other project, which I won't reveal just yet cause it's still in the early stages.. in the meantime I'll go listen to John Mayer who. without knowing it, gave me the title to this post. :)
