Here is consolidated some overall process, not related to a specific painting but rather to the construction of the project itself.

Model Sessions

Below are some selections from pastel sessions, and general sketchbook ideation.

Model Session 1: Matt

Portrait Session: London Drawing / Robin

To help me push my process, I attended multiple sessions with London Drawing (virtually) where they bring in models specifically for short portrait sessions. 5-20 minute poses

Model Session 2: Matt

Sketchbook

Material and Process Tests

I picked up a number of panels with the same square aspect ratio of what I want to do the complete pieces on. My intent, here, is to try the works in miniature to help me solve problems before they show up on the big pieces.

Newspaper Ground

Charcoal and pastel dust adheres well when the acrylic gesso is still tacky, though drawing is impossible as it tears the paper. However, pastel contains a water-based binder so I may be able to work on top of this surface, wet it, then layer a coat of acrylic on top. This may give me the opportunity to create interesting layering.

Many layers of newspaper, adhered using clear acrylic gesso, and smeared with the pastel and charcoal dust that dropped from my model sessions (above). Creates a skin-link texture of folders and wrinkles. A bit creepy, I quite like it.

Block Printing

I’ve been thinking about linoprint for some time — mostly due to a display at local art supply store. I also knew I’d never done this before, so if I were to include this in my project I’d need to lean towards the simpler end.

I also knew I wanted some repetitive symbols through the three paintings. This struck me as a perfect use of linocut. To test, I got some small 2x3in lino blocks, sketched in a very simple flower form — approximately based off a hyacinth bloom — and gave it a go. I actually quite like the effect.

Why hyacinths? Ancient Greeks, and Victorian flower symbolism apparently places purple hyacinths as representative of sorrow and/or death. Plus, it is spring right now and all the hyacinths are blooming in my garden — they don’t mean sorrow to me, they mean the arrive of spring and recovery.

All very appropriate linkage to parts of my theme.

Pastels

Going in, I thought that perhaps I could make a collection of custom pastels with which to create the works in the project. I quickly decided that this wasn’t going to be practical, though I did create a couple blocks in the process. I may end up using them, but my main medium is going to be acrylic paint.