I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m a VIP member of Fresh Paint, an online art class/community led and taught by Ali Kay. This painting, which I did on an 8×8 canvas, is based off a template and black & white reference photo that I downloaded from the Fresh Paint site in December 2024. (I can no longer find it on that site!)
In any case, I had already toned this canvas with an orangey pink; Ali Kay uses a magenta as her background. Basically, I copied her painting as far colors are concerned. For the skin color, I used Raw Sienna by Liquitex, mixed with Titanium White. The blue is Light Blue Permanent, in Liquitex Soft Body format.
But today I decided to use repurpose an old 12×12 canvas, and paint along with the video I watched last night. It was fun!
So, Slivka started out with an orangey underpainting, and then painted the forms in either Sap Green (which I used) or Hooker’s Green. For my background, I used Pyrrole Red (PR 254) mixed with Cadmium Yellow Hue (Liquitex Basics). (The blotchy look in the background is from my original unfinished painting.)
Then, while the figures were not yet dry, I followed along, painting their clothing in Titanium White, as Slivka did.
Painting the sky came next. I used Cerulean Blue (Utrecht Fluid brand) with some Titanium White.
Next was the ocean and the sand. Slivka uses some aqua green and Naples Yellow, respectively. I used Liquitex Basics Turquoise Green and created a kind of “Naples Yellow” by mixing Yellow Ochre with Titanium White. The sun-bright clothing was Titanium White softened with Cadmium Yellow Light Hue.
Slivka used Raw Sienna and Cadmium Red for the skin; I used Raw Sienna and Red Oxide. For the clothing shadows, Slivka used a violet with white. I used Liquitex Basics Gray Blue with some white.
I repainted the sky from Cerulean to Light Blue Permanent (Liquitex brand) mixed with additional Titanium White. I may repaint the ocean, and get the horizon line straighter; regardless, this exercise was just a lot of fun!
This is the first human figure I’ve painted! Yesterday, I said this was a 9×12 — no, it’s actually 11×14, which is the biggest canvas I’ve painted on so far.
I’m actually fairly pleased with this. And I’m including a work-in-progress photo, because I changed a lot of the colors.
This work, Girl in a White Dress, is yet another online tutorial on the PaintCoach Patreon page. It’s 9×12, toned in pale umber, and drawn out in willow charcoal.
Right now, I’m mapping out the big shapes of the water, with the colors to be adjusted later.
