Lucian Freud and I - The Difference

Lady in Green

It was a challenge to capture both the pose, the mood and the body. Through my love of watercolors I had to simplify the painting and at the same time find points of interest where I can best express myself.

I find that Lucian Freud exaggerates what he sees, if the nude model is thin he paints her extra thin, if she is fat he paints her extra fat. In this painting I am left to wonder what he exaggerated. 

I find his paintings fascinating and captivating. I had the privilege of seeing his exhibition at the London Portraits Gallery and it was just sheer pleasure.  

My painting is 30cm x 40cm watercolors and watercolor pencils.

How to Photograph your Painting?

Same Painting - Different Photo Techniques

  

Are you looking to upload the photo of your painting? Are you wondering what is the best way to do it?

Well if you paint on paper then you have another choice that is very cost effective and yields good results.

The left photo was taken using a professional camera with professional lighting. This method was quite expensive since I paid for the professionals time.

The right photo was taken using an ordinary color scanner. My painting is on paper that is 30cm by 40cm and it does fit into the scanners that are found at foto shops. I had the painting scanned and I have to admit that I was quite happy with the results. The colors are not so vibrant as the left, they are lighter, but I can't say that it bothers me since it is very very close to the original painting.

The painting is of a man lying down and I chose to paint him in these bright pink and orange colors. I am passionate of the results I get from watercolors; it's a skill that takes time to acquire but once you're there you're usually addicted. 

Nude Man Crouching Watercolor Painting

                                         Feeling Purple

There are many ways to paint the human body but this pose really challenged me. Here is a man that looked quite innocent and peaceful and I transformed it into fire. The fire that is in his veins; the fire that is in his head; the fire that makes up who he is.

It was quite challenging to get the pose right; the proportions right but I think I got it.

I love how the colors blend into each other and there is no distinct borders between colors.

I think the depth and muscle tones were achieve quite nicely. Not a typical male pose looking into at the beholder but rather one that holds secrets.

In this painting I chose to draw him in purples, blues, grey, orange and yellows with a distinct highlight of purple.

This painting was inspired by one of Lucian Freud's oil paintings. This painting is watercolor paints and pencils on paper 30cm x 40cm.

Nude Body - How to Paint Body No Scenery

Friends Resting

This watercolor painting may look a bit weird - where is the rest of it? Why are there parts that are detached? Does it make sense.

Yes, it makes sense to me. I decided to paint the Bodies of these 2 men without any clothes and without any furniture (pillows) that were surrounding them.

The man with just hands and face was wearing clothes; I just omitted that part of the painting. The nude man was leaning on a pillow and both were sitting on a sofa.

In the painting I chose to draw them in a variety of colors - but the orange hair I love the most.

This painting was inspired by one of Lucian Freud's oil paintings. This painting is watercolor paints and pencils on paper 30cm x 40cm.

Woman Posing - How to Paint the Body

Stretching

One way to paint the body is to find an interesting pose - one that will challenge you. With this pose of a woman stretching I was able to challenge myself. I think that the viewer is also challenged because it is not a typical pose - one stops to actually look at her.

This painting was not an easy task it took work to try and get the proportions right without too many distortions.

I think the depth and muscle tones were achieve quite nicely. Again not the classic Barbie doll but indeed a very attractive woman.

I love the pose and I love they way it all came together.

In this painting I chose to draw her in purples, blues, grey, orange and browns with a distinct highlight of purple.

This painting was inspired by one of Lucian Freud's oil paintings. This painting is watercolor paints and pencils on paper 30cm x 40cm.

Nude Painting - How Watercolor Makes a Difference

                                                           Resting

This is a pose that I took out of Lucian Freud's collection of Nude Painting. I fell in love with his painting and with how he is able to capture the nude body.

I decided to paint it in watercolor and I think I gave the painting a new feel and a new personality. 

Watercolor is a wonderful medium and using it for the nude body is innovative and fun.

Here I am using watercolor and watercolor pencils as highlights. Of course on 100% high quality cotton paper.

Nude Paintings - The Naked Body

Today I uploaded into Slideshare a new presentation - Nude Paintings in Original Watercolors . I uploaded my collection of work that was inspired by Lucian Freud's paintings.

I am especially enchanted by paintings that relate to the naked body. What I have seen is that when he has someone pose for him he does not paint the person as he looks in the mirror but rather he extenuates a feature and turns it into a highlight.

This pose of a lady was taken from one of his books. She is looking straight at him and he chooses to paint her with little flesh and lots of bones - a very thin portrayal of the real her.

Did any of you get this same feeling?