Jazz step 1, making a jazz music collage.
Using my reference images I sketch in a collage, changing what I want and keeping the rest. Most of the changes made are because of the desire to show movement in the collage. The way I’m approaching this is changing the singer’s face in a more Hispanic flavor, with hair flowing up and twisting around. Another is to make the piano keyboard dance in a curve around the guitar. I use resist white areas like on the piano keys that I want to reserve. After lightly applying a wash for some of the shapes I am happy with the layout.
The next step for me is to wet all of the background very carefully so I can start to apply a loose bright background. I love to drop large bright drops of color in my backgrounds. As long as I keep the wetness to specifically where I want the color to spread, this technique works great.
I love to drop large bright drops of color into my backgrounds. As long as I keep the wetness to specifically where I want the color to spread this “Wet on Wet” technique works fabulously.
Slowly and carefully adding more of the background details brings out the outlines of the main figures. I am pleased with the promise of the layout. It is getting more interesting as it comes to life.
I tend to keep reference images right next to where I am working. You can see the first sketch of this idea original painting resting next to my current painting. I really enjoy the bright colors in this original sketch idea so it sits here to remind me.
