In 2025, I began working on a new series of figurative paintings centered on the female form. I’m not certain how many works the series will ultimately include, or how long I will continue exploring this approach, but I have always enjoyed working across multiple styles and I’m pleased with the direction these new pieces are taking.
The original concept was to render the figures in a minimalist manner, using a black outline reminiscent of line-and-wash watercolor paintings, though executed on a much larger scale. My initial plan was to complete the works in oil, beginning with a base layer of titanium white, followed by a bold black outline and thin washes intended to mimic the translucency of watercolor. After completing a few paintings this way, I realized that the process was neither efficient nor particularly enjoyable.
The primary challenge was the extended drying time between layers. While the titanium white ground was usually dry enough to accept the sketched figure after about a week, the black outline layer then required another week or more before the wash layer could be applied. Although I consider myself fairly patient, waiting several weeks to complete a single painting ultimately felt counterproductive.
As an artist who has traditionally favored oil paint, I began experimenting more extensively with acrylics and quickly realized that they were better suited to this series. In keeping with the minimalist intent, I also decided to eliminate the titanium white underpainting altogether and begin the black outlined sketches directly on the gessoed canvas.
While the thinned black acrylic does not glide as smoothly across gesso as oil paint, I was drawn to its matte finish. What I found especially compelling was the wash layer—thinned acrylic tends to sink into the gesso, creating a subtle, absorbent quality that I have come to appreciate. Each piece, which begins as a small graphite sketch, is given a single female name.
Alongside my ongoing abstract paintings, working on these figurative pieces has been deeply enjoyable, and I plan to continue expanding this series into 2026.
– Blair