Peeling off Layers

.... the picture of pool is slowly taking shape .... it is quite challenging work ..... but as it builds up it is satisfying to see the desired outcome showing through ..... to look at it brings "cooling" feeling to my mind and that is one thing I wanted to achieve ..... the multi-layered meaning of the pool of water captured my attention long ago - looking at one of Mariane's paintings ...... and curiously also after reading the Lisa's Story by Stephen King ........

.... I consider this a final stage .... even though that may change later on .... I had a good time working on this little picture .... and so I look for another personality to be depicted by me soon ........

.... it is nice TO HAVE THE TIME for visits .... and so .... at this time of the year I usually at some point manage to loose the idea of what date and day it is ...... and that's what I call holidays .... not having to "count" all the time ... not having to look at the watch all the time ..... and visitors that are welcomed ...... and they bring you peace ..... what does it actually mean ?

.... yesterday we made a trip to Canberra to see the exhibition of Degas and Art from Pacific /Polynesia /Melanesia/ New Zealand titled "Gods, Ghosts and men" .... it was a very nice trip and exhibitions were nice too .... it was my expectation that the Pacific exhibition will be much more enticing then Degas and just as I've expected so it was ..... we also discovered that the permanent Asian collection in the Canberra gallery has some very interesting works and we would like to see it one day soon - having time to devote to it ......

..... again some work on the portrait .... just little touches that had to dry meanwhile ..... nearing the final stage because to continue would mean overworking ......

..... another stage documented ....

... been to Nowra today and so wanted to see the Meroogal House .... it was a lovely experience ... very good to see this as a museum .... I am dreaming of perhaps entering my work into the Meroogal prize .... because I like this idea and because it is for free - very encouraging ..... I saw last years entries and they were very nice ....... I would like to try and just contribute - would be happy to just be there included ....

.... dutifully documenting stages ..... photos are useful as they show parts with wrong proportions very well .... so a lot more work is needed on this little portrait ...... but it is a very satisfying work ..... showing A as a very "natural" girl ....... perhaps a little Gauginish .....

..... I changed the position of eyes and started adding a colour layer to the portrait today .... interesting .... portraits were always my interest, but I never considered going into painting ..... mostly because I like the immediacy of sketches or the sincerity of detailed study drawings and these themselves occupied all the time if any was given to any portrait again ...... colour portrait trials usually ended up being too overworked and therefore lifeless ...... and that is always a concern ......

..... this three stages I did in one day as under-painting .... now I let them dry and start adding colour .....