Day Two Further Along

So, here we are on day two of my novena art ritual.  I have sculpted the hands and feet.  This is pre-paint job. I have given them their acetone rub and am now mixing the paint.  These are the first sets of hands and feet that I felt pretty good about.  My whole thing is not to get too anal about creating an uber realistic look.  But, I want them to have the character of the whole piece and to relate to the head as best as I can.

Here is a front view of the head and face after the initial few paint layers.  Sorry, I forget to take step by steps.  But, the first layer is a wash of medium magenta acrylic.  I learned this trick from my dear friend Lorell who uses this process in her work.  It gives the piece a strong blush foundation that for the skin color I am trying to achieve works really well.

One thing that often happens in this process of healing is a bit of tear production.  Yes, I did do that several times.  But, I am aware that this is a good sign.  It is hard to look him in the eyes at this point as there is no life there yet.  Once the magenta layer is applied and is dry, I then use a deep portrait pink or flesh tone as the second layer.  I then mix a custom flesh tint and apply a wash of that.  Once these layers are dry and set, I apply a little wash of an off white to the raised places on the face to create a bit of highlight and also to dramatize the sunken areas of the face.

Here is a three quarter view to give you a since of the profile.  I really love this head and on day three I plan to paint the whites of the eyes, paint the hands and feet in the same process.  This has been a difficult process in some ways emotionally.  Especially knowing the symbolic nature of this piece.  There were a few times of hesitation in going to the studio to work.  But, I sucked it up and went back to it.  I am beginning to get his name.  No, it is not the same as mine.  Our deeper selves usually don't have the same name.  Cody is my ego or conscious name.  My soul self and and other parts of my persona have other names.

Thanks for the comments so far.  I hope that this process may help someone out there tackle the process of their own healing.  I never thought that I would have to be as brave as I have had to for this.  But, I am so ready to let this out and move on down the road.  Once he is out and in the world, he can travel with me and not feel abandoned anymore.  Until next time, my love and a hope of peace to you all.