Monthly Archives: August 2019

Second Thoughts

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

Painting from models is great, except that you need to work really fast to complete a sketch in 20 minutes. Working quickly is fun, actually exhilarating, kind of like the feeling of running or skiing downhill a little too fast. … Continue reading →

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Reaching for the Sun

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

We had such beautiful flowers today at my friend’s home, where we painted as we hid from the summer heat. The sunflowers seemed to be reaching for the sun and the sun in turn seemed to be eager to enter … Continue reading →

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Not a Party Girl

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

This sketch is from a model with gorgeous hair and a quiet demeanor. With her chin down and her right shoulder raised, I thought she looked like a reluctant party attendee. I liked the way she tilted her head with … Continue reading →

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Still Life on a Summer Day

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

I met up with some friends this morning and we painted flowers in vases, which is a pretty good way to paint on a hot summer day.

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The Living Room

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

I live near a coffee house that is a haven for readers and has air conditioning and great coffee besides. This afternoon I tucked my small 8 X 8-inch sketchbook into my purse and set off for a few hours … Continue reading →

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Finishing Up on Backgrounds

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

Last week I took a workshop on integrating figures with backgrounds. We used our personal photos as the reference and with watercolor on white paper. I learned a bit about the emotion of color and brushstrokes, but had trouble recognizing … Continue reading →

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Backgrounds

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

This week I am taking a workshop to learn how to integrate figures with backgrounds. The idea is that the body language of the figure should be amplified by the rest of the painting. The background should be suggestive without … Continue reading →

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