Taking a Class to Get My Groove Back

I decided a while back to take a 4 week class at the Art Students League of Denver to shake things up a bit.  As you know, I'm self taught, and this is my first painting class... ever.  I've felt in a bit of a rut lately.  I think I've gotten so tight with my painting and stuck with my level of knowledge that I find myself circling the easel warily.  In fact, my daughter caught me doing so the other day and made me paint... "Now, Mom.  Just do it."  She was right of course, as usual, and I got quite a bit done.  But I was still looking forward to the class.

Today was the first class of Faces and Figures with Margaretta Gilboy.  I really enjoy her teaching style.  She's kind and very straightforward.  I think at first I confused her with the way I paint.  I add color very early in the process because I see what I'm doing better that way.  I'm sure she thought I was going way too fast in the beginning, but realized what I was doing after a bit.  At one point, late in the session, I still hadn't added the color for the pillow under the model's back.  I just couldn't decide what color to make it.  She asked me a couple of times what was going on it that area.  Obviously the emptiness was bugging her and I had added color everywhere else.  Honestly, it was an obvious weird white space.  When I finally added the beginnings of the rose color, she was happy.  Hey, I could see it in my head all along! 

During the sketch and early color period, I had a heck of a time with the proportions.  I'm used to working with photos rather that a live three-dimensional person.  It's a very, very different process.  Fortunately, with acrylics, I can sketch, add light color, and then go back and sketch over it.  My work in this painting is very loosey goosey, which is what I wanted to go for in this class.  I realized about halfway through the day how much I like to lay on the floor and look at what I've done during my little breaks.  Don't worry, I managed to stay off the floor today, but it was tough! 

Before next week, I'll need to find a photo reference for the background.  I have a couple things in mind.  Finding a good photo to work from might be a challenge though.  I'll post another photo after next week's class.