[Steve_Somers]

These are some female figure studies I've been working on recently. They're mostly Oil on bristol paper and canvas, or pencil sketches. The model references are from Posespace.com and Model Mayhem. I started doing these to keep myself productive while I'm loafing on the couch watching movies with my wife and the cats. Sometimes I'll draw out the figure first to resolve proportions and any complex areas, other times I just start with paint and hope for the best.

Comments welcome. Enjoy.

Mandy - Oil on canvas, alla prima study


Jen B - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Wenona - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Becca Packing Heat - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Jenni from behind - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"

[Steve_Somers]

Here are some from my sketchbook:

[Steve_Somers]

Mandy Profile - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Mandy Standing - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Ana Iv - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Carolyne, standing pose - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Luana, standing pose - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"

[JoseVega]

WOAH dude thats a lot of studies there... Great stuff for sure. keep it up!

[Steve_Somers]

Niecy - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Betsy - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Michaela - Oil on Canvas, 12" x 12"


Becca Twins Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"


Trisha - Alla Prima Study, Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

[Steve_Somers]

Here are some progress shots taken as I work on these. I apologize for the crumminess on some of these photos, I'm hoping to upgrade my camera this year.






This one I wanted to do closer to life size, so it's on canvas, taped to the wall.


And here's the finished piece.


When I'm working on the couch, this is my setup. Pretty simple pallette, with a laptop in front of me for the reference, and most likely a VHS tape playing in the background.

[mindbender]

Beautiful figure paintings. Thanks for sharing the entire creative process. Keep painting and posting

[Steve_Somers]

Thanks for the encouragement Jose and Mindbender!

Here are a couple more Becca studies, a digital speedpaint and a sketch.

[MC1986]

Good stuff! I'm loving your colour palette; great use of warm/cool contrast and colour relationships instead of relying on light/dark contrast alone. It reminds me of Lucien Freud and Jenny Saville.

[Steve_Somers]

Thanks MC1986 - I've been working on the warm cool relationships, trying to understand how the light interacts with the skin.


Here is a Sculpey piece I was working on, using Jenni as the model. Started out with a wire mesh as an armature,and so it would be hollow for cooking, then painted in acrylics.

[Steve_Somers]

This was kind of a starting point for these figure studies on white. I wanted to do a more caricatured figure study, and keep the pristine whiteness around it.

Betsy on Stool - Oil on Bristol, 14" x 11"

[Steve_Somers]

Another Oil study of Wenona in Cobra pose.



It's interesting what happens to the face and neck when the head is pulled back this far. The jaw pulls back, muscles and structure in the neck compress... Don't think I've drawn a face in that angle before.

[Steve_Somers]

All too often we forget what a deadly assassin the Aardvark can be. Named after the greek Orycteropus afer, it is a nocturnal burrowing animal with hoof like claws and a taste for vengeance. With it's cold steel, and deadly aim, this naked destroyer will let nothing stand between her and retribution.



having fun with the figure studies -- this one was painted in photoshop.

[Steve_Somers]

[Delira]

Wonderful studies. It's amazing how expressive the hands are.