12fp(s) - painting 6 [SOLD]

If there is a film in this painting series that people have a good chance of recognising, it is almost certainly going to be this one (mainly because 4 out of the previous 5 films were either Finnish or from French New Wave cinema of the 1950s/60s)...


This is a quick painting from an American film of 1959, directed by the legendary English filmmaker who most influenced the development of my graduation film (Pigment of Imagination) last year.
My dad quickly identified the actor and several memorable scenes from the film, but he struggled to recall the name of the film. Can you do better?

I have used the tubed watercolour paints (like yesterday's painting) for my second time, and although I had to wrestle with the paint in order to get the colours and textures that I originally desired, the finished image is slowly beginning to grow on me.
I can't tell whether I am warming to this painting because I like the aesthetic, or if it's just because I see hints of Edward Hopper in it (much like the first painting, which coincidently was of another 1959 film!) But one thing is for sure: this is one of the most memorable scenes in this great film, and I now have a strong desire to do nothing but watch the full film (once again)!

12fp(s) - painting 5

I decided to do something a little different for this painting...


...That's right, I've painted it all with just one colour.

The colour of paint (Phthalo blue) looked good on the tube label, but now that I've done the painting I'm not so keen on it - it just seems too bright/bold and sour.

As well as using a different colour scheme than usual, this is the first time I've ever done a painting with tubed watercolours (instead of my preferred watercolour pans). As this painting only used one colour I'm unable to make a full analysis of both types of watercolour paints, but what I did notice is that these tubed paints offered a wider range of tones and also allowed me to paint consistently strong lines.
Even though that isn't apparent in this finished painting, I'm hopeful that the ability to paint a fuller range of tones and strong lines with tubed watercolours will allow me to create more Expressionistic paintings in the future - perhaps in a style reminiscent of Van Gogh.

12fp(s) - outtake 1

This painting is related to Film but it isn't a film still. For this reason I've decided that the painting will get posted on the blog under the 12fp(s) name, but once the series is complete it won't be included.


I admired the original photograph that this painting is based on because it was quite stylish (reminding me of my first painting in the series), and I also saw this as a chance to experiment with the style of classic 50s Pin-up paintings like those by Gil Elvgren.

I originally drew this in pencil with more expressive lines than my usual work, and although I wanted to paint those lines back into the final image I decided against it for fear that the painted lines would distract from the rest of the image. I think I made the right decision...

The only thing I don't like about this image is what she is sitting on. The original photograph has her at the beach sitting on what looks like a cut-down tree trunk, but I chose to leave the background out of my painting so that the character is the only point of interest in the final image... I think I was right to leave out the background, however having a plain background has now made the seat much more noticeable - which in this simplified style is not good.
Apart from that though, I'm really happy with this painting.


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Related websites:
A large collection of Elvgren's Pin-up paintings
ThePinUpFiles.com

12fp(s) - painting 4 [SOLD]

I don't have much new to say about these paintings now. They all seem to be getting influenced by my first painting in the series, so I'm unsure whether they are nicely maintaining the original style or if I'm just over-doing it now...