From the Artist: I love blue... it makes me think of the vastness of the sky and the depth of the ocean. And since I've painted myself in my favorite contemplative (a better word for daydreaming!) pose, blue it was! I've worked looking at a mirror and with a photograph (couldn't hold a brush in this position).
From the Painting Guide: I think blue is the perfect color for conveying contemplation and thoughtfulness, being calm and cool. The touch of red in the bottom left and on your lips/eyebrows (and in some shadows) gives a lovely hint of warmth, suggesting something hidden.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Color of Shadows: Notice how blue and red have been used in the shadows (or areas of darker tone). How this creates shadows that are far more interesting than if black had been used in every instance. When you're painting shadows, try not to reach for black but to pick a color that works for its tone. Or use colors from the rest of the composition to mix into a chromatic black.
Composition: Notice how the arms are at an angle rather than horizontal to the bottom edge of the canvas. The latter would make for a far more static composition, whereas the angles lead your eye up. Notice how the strong blue and red in the background/foreground don't dominate the face, but rather frame the body and emphasize the touches of blue and red elsewhere. How these are not solid blocks of color, but have variation in them which creates visual interest.
From the Painting Guide: I think blue is the perfect color for conveying contemplation and thoughtfulness, being calm and cool. The touch of red in the bottom left and on your lips/eyebrows (and in some shadows) gives a lovely hint of warmth, suggesting something hidden.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Color of Shadows: Notice how blue and red have been used in the shadows (or areas of darker tone). How this creates shadows that are far more interesting than if black had been used in every instance. When you're painting shadows, try not to reach for black but to pick a color that works for its tone. Or use colors from the rest of the composition to mix into a chromatic black.
Composition: Notice how the arms are at an angle rather than horizontal to the bottom edge of the canvas. The latter would make for a far more static composition, whereas the angles lead your eye up. Notice how the strong blue and red in the background/foreground don't dominate the face, but rather frame the body and emphasize the touches of blue and red elsewhere. How these are not solid blocks of color, but have variation in them which creates visual interest.