Sketches: Gazelle Cri D'étoile

    For my first poster idea i drew the classic fortune teller with her crystal ball. I could change her clothes, however i wanted her to be mysterious so if i do change it, i would want her face to still be covered with a veil of sorts.
   I just sketched with my pencil to capture the outline and basic shading using my favourite zigzag scribble or cross hatch technique, to establish the image. I do not want to add any colour so i feel more free to explore the colour scheme later. However for now, i picture her wearing a lilac cloak, with deep purple creases, dark shadows looming behind her and the light coming from the crystal ball that will be a silvery blue colour, projecting a golden, yellow bird. The bird and light colours was inspired by a tarot card i picked out of the deck that day designed by Natalee Miller. This also brought me to the Thoth poem about being free from your body as a star, instead i use the bird to show this freedom. I could add little white diamond like shape or small stars to the circus tent background to create a more lavish appearance to the tent.

    During breaks from my research, when i felt like creating something i decided to experiment with oil paints for the first time. I focused on her cloak, starting with a pale lilac colour trying to get the consistency of the oil paints correct so it wasn't too faint. I then built up a darker colour on top in some places as i felt it looked a bit washed out for the light coming from the centre and the supposed dark, shadowy surroundings. After this i started painting the creases in and trying to blend. I am not certain this is the best technique as i feel blending as you go may be more effective. However i do feel like this worked for me with how inexperienced with oil paints i am. Using the turpentine to resurrect the paler oil paint to mix with the creases colour helped blend some parts out well. Unfortunately it then got too cold in my room with the window open at night and had bad weather the next few days so fell stuck with being able to continue with oil paint. This was quite annoying as i was excited to build up a new skill with a new medium, instead i think i shall explore oil paints over the summer in my free time. For now i shall continue using gouache as my main medium.
   Hopefully i will have some time on good weather days to continue this piece between my other work before being marked. I would build up more colour on the cloak to add more depth and a shine to some areas. Additionally, i drew some leaves growing out from behind the fortune teller as i felt it was fitting for her role. Growth and life is a promising thing for people when they receive these news from fortune tellers, i wanted to show that positive idea subtle to play in the deceit that is actually occurring. With these leaves and vines growing behind, i picture them to be washed out pale green with dark brown branches that almost dont stand out from the dark background it grows on.

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