Chris Beaven

I’m working very very slowly…

I’m working on the shirt now and there are all kinds of subtle folds that just need a slight value change to express.

I haven’t sent the last 10 or so posts to subscribers or social media because I’m working so slowly, but today I’m done with the head.

I did a bit more work on the top of the shirt and the edges of my hair. I think one more session and the head will be done.

I’ve moved on to the shirt but I’m not done with my portrait yet, I just need to do the shirt under the hair before I finish the hair.

For this session I worked on my neck. I’m very close to finishing the head of this self portrait. But there is still a long road ahead.

I have a lot of hair and so far I like the look best when I get in there and draw individual hairs.

Today I timed myself similar to how the models are timed at life drawing in an effort to lengthen my session.

Today I changed the shape of my head a lot after discovering some drawing issues.

I’ve been working on this painting now for 52 separate sessions and I’m happy to say that I’m still motivated to continue.

I’m in the process of repainting my mouth, the drawing was way off but I still have a lot to adjust before I’m happy with it.

I’m moving on to other parts of my portrait now. It is all about refining the features and drawing now.

I made some more drawing fixes to my nose but as I look at it again I’m not sure it is correct and will spend at least another session on it.

I’m repainting my nose, the drawing is off a bit and I’m fixing it.

I think I have finished the eyes, I’m never 100% sure because I still have a lot left to do in this painting and I may go back and make changes.

I’ve finally painted one eye to my satisfaction. I’ve worked on this left eye for many sessions but only today did I get it right.

I’m unhappy with the left eye it looks incorrect. In this session I painted over most of the eye and changed up the drawing significantly. I may have to do it again.

I moved over the entire top half of the portrait today making small changes. I should have focused my effort at the beginning.

Today I focused my efforts and I worked on the very top of my head, just the forehead and a bit of hair.

I started today’s session confused on what to do, even though I’m working very slowly on this I’m still having trouble starting on something…

I’m not liking how the portrait is coming along so I keep going over what I did on the previous session. I need more patience as it will take time.

I’m working slowly and carefully around the eyes of the portrait still. I keep making slight adjustments because I’m not happy with it currently.

The most important part of this painting is the eyes and as such, I’m spending a lot of time getting them correct.

I’m back to working on the figure and I’m starting from the top down.

So I changed the background again, it was too busy with the texture.

I worked on  refining the sink today, I basically want to get everything behind the figure done.

Today I worked on the door a bit, trying to get the lines straight but not too sharp.

I didn’t like the background it was too nebulous and didn’t define the space well, so I’m adding a door.

I painted the details of my comfy pants today. I love these pants, I wear them often.

I keep a little tiny very simple color wheel on my palette just to help me remember.

For this session I worked on the sink and faucet.

Believe it or not everything in this painting is put there intentionally.

Yes this painting is taking a long time to complete, and I’m Okay with that for now.

I like the color change for the counter, but now the texture is distracting.

I added in some of the other elements in this painting and I’m finding them distracting.

When painting its important to paint over edges not just up to an edge.

The background was to bright and wanted it to recede more so I changed its color.

I’m not liking the background color and I feel it is detracting away from the figure so for this session I’m beginning to tone it down.

Today I had an easy day of painting as I blocked out the frame for the mirror.

I’m not sure this hand turned out better than the last one.

Today I painted one of the hands and it proved to be very complex.

I don’t feel like I pushed the colors enough on this session.

I had fun working on the torso today.

For this session I worked on the arm and a bit of the torso.

After a long day and a super hard hike, I’m taking it easy and just working on the background.

Working more on the shirt blockin today, easy stuff, not too much to talk about.

Not much happening now I’m working on the shirt I’m wearing and I don’t expect to put much detail in it.

It’s difficult to reserve judgement on your artwork until your far enough along for it to warrant it.

Today I took it easy, I knew that I wasn’t very focused so I worked on the background a bit.