Modigliani inspired

Taken from a sketch I made of myself in the mirror - I decided to paint a further study of it on paper with what was initially watercolor but ended up being acrylic.

Matisse inspired watercolor

 First I tried out a rough version of the Matisse painting with watercolour. I really liked his use of color on the face. 

Then I worked on a couple of others. Below is partly from an image by Chagall which I made into it's own.

 

 I manipulated on the computer to see how the painting would work black and white with interesting results. I like the different values that come out.

 

 A watercolour inspired by Joe, the painting I had done previously with acrylics.

Joe

This is a study I just painted of Joe, an amazing 93 year old man I know where I teach art classes. He has such a feisty upbeat character and many stories to tell and often comes down to see me in some wonderfully eccentric outfit. I wanted to somehow capture this.
When I showed him what I had done he said, 'Well that's an ugly looking man, but boy have you captured my soul in this painting!'. Mission accomplished.