Friday, March 2, 2012

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY: More Hands!

This week has been set aside to studying the form of hands, and that is exactly what I've done. My paintings lately tend to have hands in them and though I've finished a few paintings in oils with hands in them, I still think there is room for improvement, there is always room for improvement.




'Leaves in the Garden' (below) has been quite the challenge for me, this little girl's chubby fingers have had me stumped, I have worked further on her hands since the photo below, and I've even done a tonal study, to better understand the structure of her hands. I'm getting there with this painting.



And, here's a quick study I did this afternoon of some hands in different positions, I don't usually keep a journal or do quick sketches but I've started this week, and I'm finding it invaluable for improving my observational skills. Do you keep a journal?



 Visit Paint Party Friday and join the party!




Comment on this post using Facebook:

Comment on this post using Blogger, WordPress, Type Pad, LiveJournal, OpenID, AIM or Name/URL:

31 comments:

  1. You are already doing a great job. I always chicken out and hide hands where I can! I should practice like you do - you are a very good inspiration!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hands can be over whelming, but there are some great videos and books available that explain the basic structure and break it down into simple forms.

      Delete
  2. Great hands...I always find hands so hard to get right... :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh ! hands can be hard to do ~ you are doing them very well ~namaste, carol (A Creative Harbor) Happy PPF ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am certain you will find a way to do her hands that you love- since you are putting in lots of work & effort to mastering hands. I am a novice hand(and figure drawer) so I think they look fantastic already!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The hands in the first picture are marvellous. The light in that one is superb! I find it really helpful keeping a sketchbook and it definitely helps me. I tend to avoid hands....(oh dear)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lesley, I do enjoy capturing light. The first painting was inspired by one of Sargent's, he's the master of light, I admire his paintings so much.

      Delete
  6. This just gets better and better, and I love that you took us through the process of your studies! Awesome!
    PPF Hugs,
    Stephanie Mealor Corder

    ReplyDelete
  7. You did a wonderful job on something that is very difficult to do. Especially like the little girl painting.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your paintings are WONDERFUL!! Yes, i've kept a journal for years now - love it.
    Your sketches are great too... glad i found you. :-) Happy PPF! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful hand studies, and I love Leaves in the Garden!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

    ReplyDelete
  10. so hard to make hands look life like. yours are amazing. i particularly like the first one.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful hand studies and paintings, they're so hard to do, and make these kinds of studies is always so useful. I have a number of journals for different subjects, purposes and techniques. Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bravo to you for working on your hands. So many people just refuse to even try and paint them. If the top painting is any example, you do a pretty impressive job. Kids hands are the toughest, they twist those chubby little fingers into some weird shapes.

    ReplyDelete
  13. All of your comments of support and encouragement are wonderful, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The exciting part of visiting around on PPF is that there is such variety in the types of painting shown. Visiting your blog is especially rewarding because of your very fine talent. The hands in these paintings are so beautiful. Seeing the works on PPF is like a visit to an art museum. thanks for sharing your works.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Loving your wonderful hands. Happy PPF and enjoy the weekend, Annette x

    ReplyDelete
  16. you are getting there on the hands pretty quickly... feet next I say... why not tackle all the impossible parts... awesome work and so great to catch up the other day... hope you get some painting time in this weekend...xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. arrrrghhh, FEET! I have read a bit about them from the books you lent me, they seem scarier than hands to me. Yes, It was awesome to catch up with you, I really enjoy our chats over tea. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too and get some painting done aswell. xx

      Delete
  17. Great hands! Really super job.

    I am terrible at hands and try to avoid them if possible. Mittens anyone?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wonderful hands! I love seeing your studies, and can't wait to see the final chubby fingered child.
    Happy PPF! Helen @ Natures Walk

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your hands are just wonderful. I can't get the observation bit right, I always draw what I think and not what I see. So frustrating, you have really mastered the art.
    Still trying to get some time to catch up with Tracey and meet you, so much going on over here at the moment.
    Von.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Von. Your comments about my ability mean a lot to me.

      Yes, I would love to meet you too, I was having a cuppa with Tracey last week and we both thought the same thing, a cuppa with Von is in order.

      Please let me know when things have slowed down and you are free.

      Delete
  20. your work is so beautiful...yes, i have always kept a journal/sketchbook, since i was 17...still have them all...i used to draw my hand over and over again in the margins of my school notebooks...the little girl with the leaves and the arms akimbo are fantastic...your good drawing habits show your skill...bravo! happy ppf!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hands are so difficult. You do have them in good shape.. .. more than likely a lot of practice, whew. Blessings, Janet PPF

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hands and feet are absolutely the toughest parts of the body to accurately portray, at least in my experience. Your hands all look perfect in my opinion, though I can see how the one of the little girl's was a challenge. I don't current keep a sketchbook with me, but after glimpsing yours I think that would probably be a good idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hands are tough, but I'm learning it's mostly about observation, practice and painting what you see.

      Keeping a sketch book is a great idea, It was not my usual practice, but that has changed, as it's really beneficial.

      Delete
  23. Hands and feet are really challenging ( in addition to faces, eyes and lips, not to mention ears and noses...), but you are doing a wonderful job with them! Your practise is paying off!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Tracey! I love the little girl holding up the leaves! So precious... you really caught her personality!
    Saying hello from PPF!
    Renee
    oxox
    www.fussitup.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I always put the hands "behind the back!!!
    Yours are lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Nice work on the hands . I'm afraid I'm just starting out in this art medium and my style of work is more in the naive style, in an area I an actually can create in : ) Lovely, lovely work.

    ReplyDelete