Return to Wild Colour

 You may wonder about the difference between the way I normally paint and the way I do a wild colour painting?  To be honest, I thought I had forgotten how to approach the latter.  However, the idea of returning to my looser, more vibrant and unexpected style hit me out of the blue last week and resulted in a series of portraits that somewhat resembles the work I did back in 2014 and 2015.  

I think there are two fundamental differences in the process of doing what I call "wild colour" portraits.  First, the under layer includes the typical yellows, oranges, reds and purples.  But, it also contains some greens and blues.  The addition of those colours changes the way my brain works, inexorably. 

The second difference is that I completely avoid my typical skin tones.  It is so easy to slip into realism, so I don't even open that door when doing wild colour. 

While the process is fast and loose like I did in the early years, the finished work is better and less rigid, less predictable.  The other thing to remember is that for the first ten months of my painting life, I used a collection of house paints for my creations.  It's hard to believe, or even imagine, now, but I was completely limited by the colour tints that I had in front of me.  Six year later, I have the benefit of a lot of experience, a great collection of brushes and a wide selection of professional acrylic paints.  

Here is what came off the easel in a six day period last week.

Charley Pride, 16" x 24", acrylic on canvas
available for purchase

Anthony Hopkins, 16" x 20", acrylic on canvas
available for purchase

Digging Deep - Robert Plant, 16" x 24", acrylic on canvas
available for purchase

Lou Reed, 12" x 18", acrylic on canvas
available for purchase

Anne Frank, 12" x 16", acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Edward G. Robinson, 12" x 16", acrylic on canvas
available for purchase

Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 16" x 24", acrylic on canvas
available for purchase

For arranging a purchase, the best thing to do is to reach me by email: russell.thomas@birdsongconnections.com.  Or, you can send me a note on Facebook Messenger at my Russell Thomas Art page.