Femme de feu IX - step I... Looking for more of a martial attitude!

With the female fighter in mind, I started a new one this afternoon with potentially more character than the previous ones...

I'd like to integrate everything that I've done so far with this series, i.e., expressionistic realism, primitive kid-like scribbles and partial deconstruction with drips and paint roller marks. With this approach, I'm starting to see a parallel with the art from the street, especially thinking about realistic wall paintings being subjected to kids' graffiti or being partially destroyed by either the elements or stripping (partial removal of the top paper layer from overlapping wall posters). My intent is to solicit emotional responses at different levels using diverse pictorial languages within the same picture. I see also some potential in reintroducing "matter" but only in strategic areas within the picture plane.

This is a 36 X 36 canvas...

Femme de feu VIII final... Opening another door!

I completed my experiment on a new textural effect with raw cotton this morning...

Applying textures with a 4 inch roller requires some "getting used to" as every move is finite!  A number of application ideas came to mind after this experiment... in support of higher contrasts between mid tones and light tones.

Note to self: "This avenue may be my salvation as I run out of raw cotton/linen four to five years down the line... In a nutshell, when it comes to textures, I want more than the usual painting knife effects on a textured background with either raw or primed canvas. This new technique goes in line with my idea about deconstruction... high risk/high payback!"

Femme de feu VIII - step III.... Making the jump!

I did a quick third pass (2 layers) with thicker paint to refine the facial features further and create some drama...

My next step is to add textures with a roller... this is totally experimental!

Note: Raw cotton is so different from raw cotton/linen that the technical readjustment is always brutal... but the pastel look is appealing to me...

Femme de feu VIII - step II... Gaining some respect for street artists!

The second pass was a blocking exercise including a slew of adjustments to get closer to the look I wanted (further alignments are required)...

I realize the skills required to work on a large scale and this partial face at an angle is most challenging for me... besides, the small size of my home studio is a major handicap! I need a thicker layer before proceeding with more drastic moves...

Femme de feu VIII - step I .... A change of pace!

I cut a piece of raw cotton for this one to make a few experiments with a roller for textural effects (the smoother surface of raw cotton may be more desirable for what I'm after)...

The first pass is an approximation, which implies further readjustments along the way. This close-up was a challenge (22 X 36 canvas)  as it required more than my eyes for measurements!

Femme de feu VII final... Getting back into the fighting spirit!

I finished this one in a hurry this morning making sure not to obliterate the canvas surface...

A minimalist approach is slowly taking place as I continue my artistic saga with raw canvas. As I progress, I want to contrast this approach with some more drastic "curve balls" in the way of marks, drips and color splashes... This is a 28 X 28 canvas.

Femme de feu VII - step III... Down to the wire!

After having achieved fairly decent realism with much economy of means, I went ahead with some deconstruction using drips, marks and, in this instance, fencing patterns to reflect the fighter's cage...

Scary stuff! As a second step, I went with blueish lighting and kept working at integrating the fence with the fighter's face...

 Another pass should do it...

Note to self: " I haven't exploited this kind of lighting a lot having opted for diffused lighting with my recent paintings. It's time to open that door!"