I have decided to start with acrylics, a medium I have used with on and off but have yet to master. I would like to become more accomplished at applying this medium, developing my own approach and exploring possibilities.
Exercises 1 and 2 have already forced me out of my comfort zone encouraging me to re-learn the experience of playing, making mistakes and re-working initial mark making with different layers and techniques. Even the simple mark making required observation, decisions regarding brush or implement choice, colour, support (paper, board canvas etc!), exploration and on reflection establishing opinions and feelings about the results.
It has actually taken me a couple of weeks to get to a point where I was satisfied with exercise 1. From sketchbook studies I choise an orientation and placement of the piece of fruit in relation to the natural light source and that interested me from my view point. Standing back and waiting between layers over several days enabled me to adjust early marks getting a better feel for the effects of changing light and seeing the impact of adding different colours.
