Deliberation: Step 6

I had so much fun painting this hand. Now that the new technique is getting more familiar, I am able to concentrate less on the technical side of things, and more on the aesthetic. I have always enjoyed painting hands. I find them to be often just as expressive as faces. This one was also lit in a very beautiful way, and so gracefully draped across the foot. As with the other flesh in this painting, I started out with an under-painting which was allowed to dry, and then came back with the flesh-tones, working into a thin layer of oil and burnt umber. In between those two steps, I decided to begin dropping the background into place. Having been on a bit of a concrete bender lately, I dove right in. I was already really pleased with the floor, and was limited by the reflections as to the basic set-up of the wall behind the figure. As soon as I finished it, however, I disliked it completely. It was far too busy and flat. I would eventually paint over it. At this point I was also beginning to think about what would be outside the windows.

