Imani in a Hat

So, my portrait of Imani. My least favourite so far (no offence, Min) and the most experimental.

I began by trying some collaging, sticking poems and fabric on the board. 

I didn't want it to be entirely representational (eg the fabric cut in the shape of the hat). However, the problem is that, if it's not, it stops in random places when you're painting.

So I then started painting much more thickly to compensate for the different levels of texture:

Then, I decided that I didn't like the poems and how they were looking (and they were also placed too symmetrically around the board, so I painted them over. I discovered in the process that I love painting with a palette knife.

I then decided the overall look was too green, and made it more blue. Then finally I painted thickly everywhere else as well.

It's ok. I made the hands worse than they were, but in finishing it I like it much more than I did as I was going along! I particularly like the little detail of Imani's ring, and I do like the overall testures.

Before I messed up the hands

The final one. I'm pleased because I would normally avoid painting skin tones like the plague. I like the textures (although she has a burnt looking arm because of some of the paper placement) and I'm pleased with the colours.

 The hands are still a bit rubbish. Bnd it's original. And I painted it. And it's mine.