14 Years of Age

 This was my reference photo which I have used before.

Here is the initial sketch on the oil painting. At this point I really had no idea where I was headed.

 Here is the figure sketched in with oil paint. After this I tried a variety of options with the paper. It's easy for it to become too busy. I tried to stay with a limited palette.

Nothing is made up here. It really is just a blending of the two images and trying to figure out a way to make them work together.

Log Bench Demo

 Here is my reference photo. I believe this photo was taken at the picnic grounds.

 I started with an oil painting s/c that I was never quite happy with and thought I could put it to better use. I laid down 5 pieces of paper and then sketched in my image.

 I then painted the image and tied all the pieces of paper together with oil paint. After this is done, I step back and assess what I have.

The light green was too intense for the rest of the paining, so I toned it down with some white.

I then worked on the figure.

I add some final touches to the figure and work on the background just a bit.

Demo for Blue Shoulder

I had the image of the woman in mind as I placed the pieces of paper. The first thing I wanted to do was get the masonite covered. The pieces are old paintings that I had done on paper. I picked this piece, because I wanted a dark brown for the skin and the sloping line on the right could be used for the shoulder line.

3 more pieces of paper were laid in to get the masonite covered. I used the piece at the lower left, because the lines followed the lines of her shirt and shadows of her chin. The brighter blue piece was than used to resemble the other side of her shirt. The lighter blue piece above the left shoulder was cut and torn to roughly follow the outline of her head and shoulder.

Once I had the board covered, I roughed in the sketch. Here I assess what I have and determine how I want to move forward. I usually start with an area that bothers me. I needed to lower and establish the left shoulder, which got me working with the darks on that side and under the chin.

I continue to carve out the image in pastel and find ways to "stitch" the pieces of paper together on the face.
I do this usually by taking some color from each piece and putting it on the other.

Then the facial features are addressed and any final touches. 5x7 on board.

Double Breasted Coat - Demo

 

 I started with a rough sketch. This assisted me with the placement of the paper.

 Here I have painted in the blue hair with gauche and placed two pieces of paper which were from old watercolor paintings.

 ...more gauche. I am trying to find colors that might work with the pieces of the watercolor paper.

 I discovered in my pile the paper I wanted to use for the coat. This, too, is a piece of an old watercolor painting. I painted some more gouache, though, before I laid down the paper. I didn't want to later have to paint up to the paper's edge. I wanted to try to keep that a clean line. I also had to work that piece of paper to make it do what I wanted it to.

 Then more gouache to unify the front of the coat.

I then went in with pastel to start to carve out the image. This is when  I had to get serious. I tried to keep as much of the paper pieces visible as I thought would work. At this point I felt like I wanted to tone down the upper right corner. I did really like that piece of paper, though, but it just wasn't working for me.

...and finally, the hard part - the face. I always manage to save it for last, even though, I vow to do it first, but that never happens.
   This was the first time I used gouache and really liked it. My studio neighbor gave me them to try. (Thanks Helene!) I love how fast they dry. It's great when working with collage and pastel. 5x7 on paper.