Painting People 1

After studying the figures on Asafo flags, as well as the art of African Folk artists working in a similar style, I found that I was able to draw animals in a much looser style that I previuosly could. However I felt that I was still struggling with depicting humans loosely or in a style remenisant to Asafo flags.

In an attempt to improve upon this, I did some water colour sketches. The figures definitely look looser, but are not exactly what I want them to look like. I also didn’t draw faces on them, and left a lot of them bald, as I’m still unsure of how I want to depict their faces or hair.

I asked my 6 year old to draw hair and a face on one of my sketches, as I figure I can learn alot about painting loosely from children. He gave them these distorted blutchy faces, that sort of looked like they were sticking their tounges out, as well as extavagent Napoleon hat hairstyles.

Another little mermaid: I’ve been enjoying sketching mermaids in this flat, side tilt style similar to the ones depicted in African folk art.