I changed my mind about working on the figure today, choosing to develop the background a little more instead. I’ve painted the first of the star jasmine flowers around the figure, setting up the first layer of several more to come. There’s something very satisfying about repetitive work when it makes patterns as pretty as these flowers, but there’s a sense of endurance about it too. I find it contemplative and plaesant, in the same way that yoga asanas bring about a meditative state.
Once I’ve done a few more smaller flowers and some leaves a glaze of green will drop these ones back, then I’ll do another spread of them over it, bringing depth and variety that will feel true to reality.
The figure is still ghostly and needs solidity, so I’m looking forward to building more depth and dimension. I’m pleased to have a more substantial background so I can balance the value of the figure against it with greater confidence.
