I’m wandering down a different path  with this one – after the last landscape I really wanted to do something different. Something that would be a little surreal, predominantly monochrome but still high contrast. Searching Dali, Miro and Magritte online was really inspirational and I started to think of fluidity, movement and dancers. Since I got the JG domain name about this time (Note-I think I started in March?) , it hit me – a giraffe ballerina!  ( I promise this made perfect sense in my head).  The ballerina’s body is based on a photo with the caption “Imaging the Dance”. I can’t remember who the photographer is as the printout isn’t with me now, but I’ll update the post when I retrieve it. In the meantime, hattip to you Mr Photographer, thank you very much! *update- the photo was captioned ” Imaging The Dance, Marco Cappalunga”

I didn’t really have a plan for the background at this point, but I felt it needed something that would evoke a theatre. Chequerboard floors came to mind, so first there was a wonky sketch, then a lesson in perspective..

Last weekend was a breakthrough and I think her vertical leg finally looks much better- less like a static concrete pillar and more like an actual leg. The hands still need a lot of work and I’m finding the knuckles really tricky. Also I think I’ve accidentally inverted her wrist..

I’m hoping I can get’er done in 3 more sessions, then move on to her companion piece!