Three steps forward, two steps back: my portrait of a Mermaid Siamese Twins.

 Once in a blue moon it happens: you sit in front of your easel with in mind a clear idea of what you will paint. From the pencil sketch to the final "fignolage " (ugly french word meaning "last touch ups") everything goes in a perfect linear way, no hesitation, no struggle, et voila! Done.

Well this time it wasn't meant to be. I wanted to paint a two headed mermaid but it took several nose jobs, different hair textures or tail color changes before I was finally satisfied with the result. The important part is to keep on going and trust the process: the painting is in there and will appear if you have patience and try just a little longer.

Sketch and light wash all over. I apply the colors for the underpainting of the skin.

 

I am planning to give her (or them) blue hair so my favorite trick is to use orange, the complementary color, as an underlayer.

 

I change my mind about the eyes of the girl on the right and she has to be blind for a minute so I can repaint her eyes open.

 

I add a heart on her belly, floating above her hands.

 

 I paint the background darker and darker and decide to go for a tonal color palette, mainly blues and greens.

 

And now I am not liking the red heart anymore and I want something larger to replace it.

 

I cover the red for a while to make is easier to decide what color I would like to replace it with. I also fiddle with the hair texture because this look seems too cartoony for me.

 

I think I figured out her hair but the whole image seems boring. I push my easel in a corner of the room and try to forget it for a while but everytime I walk by I glance at it hoping that the solution will reveal itself to me.

 

And this is what I finally decide: to change the tail color to goldfish orange and add more texture to it and replace the heart with a pink lotus, one of my favorite symbols (yes, I am shamelessly using peace and/or love at any occasion)

 

I make a quick tear-drop shaped stencil and paint gold drops on the black background.  The final touch is to print on her chest "Be Like Water", a quote dear to me, inspired by one of the principles of the Tao.

 

Here is a detail of my final version of the twins.

 

 And I couldn't resist to show you this very different take on Mermaids Siamese Twins... 

 ...the four arms and four boobs kind, made by fabric artist Keighty Crochet.

 

 

Comments

[deborah]

so lovely isabelle!! love love love the gold raindrops!

[Lpbaker]

So interesting to see the stages of this, and I think where you ended up is lovely :)

[Paul Moshay]

Your process is so fascinating Isabelle. Thanks, Paul

[corrine estrada]

thank you for sharing, inspiring.

[Austin Auto Accident Lawyer]

Beautiful artwork! I wish I had a fraction of the versatility and talent you clearly have.

[Isabelle]

Thank you for the compliments, they are very much appreciated, painting being somewhat of a lonely sport (but not quite as much since I can post my work online!).

[Daniel]

Your post is beautiful, so inspiring. Thank you...

[Shelley Whiting]

I love the step by step process. Your work is very ethereal and dreamy. Beautiful and enchanting work.