Norma Jean

Norma Jean
Oil on masonite, 6x6

This was the demo in painting class today, an oil painting in black and white of a young Marilyn Monroe.  To gain the likeness, I used a brush to mark out the features.  Next, I painted in the background and masses, using the largest brush possible.  The features gave me a little trouble - Marilyn was not cooperating!  As with all portrait work, I pushed the paint a little here and pulled it there, until I was happy.  I then went in with some thick, juicy paint and my knives and catalyst, making marks wherever the whim took me. I chose black and white, but I am now wondering how cool a color version might be..... This painting took brushes, knives and a catalyst to complete and is my 1147th painting in as many days.