Creating mood and atmosphere

For the exercise I attended a workshop at my local Adult Learning Centre, and having in mind my research I wanted to experiment with brush strokes and colour palette as a mean of achieving mood and atmosphere.

My first attempt was a 30-minute pose in which I experimented with a similar colour palette as Munch’s Nude, and used my fingers to smooth out the brush strokes.

Considering that it was a quick pose and I was just experimenting I think the sketch captures sad mood and atmosphere.

2. My second attempt was a two-hour pose using WMO with water on 40 x 50cm oil paper, a very limited palette of Burnt Umber, Naples Yellow and Red Naples Yellow, and large bold brush strokes.

Although my intention was to create an energetic portrait with strong atmosphere, it morphed into a relaxing sketch because the model fell asleep during the session - her face and body gradually sank into the mattress, changing position, which made it difficult to get any detail and I had to keep adjusting the work. It does however have a peaceful, restful atmosphere about it.

For my third attempt, an approximately two-hour pose from a different angle, I introduced colour. I didn’t attempt to put any detail in, I just enjoyed painting with loose brush strokes following the curves of the body, and this time the peaceful atmosphere disappeared and it took on more of a mood of sadness somehow.