Painting "Plump": My Monochromatic Baby Portrait Challenge

Breaking Out of My Comfort Zone: Hot Press Paper Adventure

Let me paint you the full picture of how far outside my comfort zone I ventured. Not only was I tackling a no-sketch portrait (something that usually makes me procrastinate and second guess myself to no end), but I was doing it on Arches Hot Press 140lb paper. Now, if you know me at all, you know I'm a cold press and rough press kind of gal. This block had been sitting in my studio, practically taunting me to use it.

Sometimes we need to shake up everything at once - the surface, the approach, even our usual color palette.

The Magic of Monochromatic: Why One Color Changes Everything

I reached for Winsor and Newton Aqua Green - which, plot twist, is actually a gorgeous blue! Working monochromatically might seem limiting at first, but trust me on this: it's incredibly freeing. When you remove the decision-making around color mixing, you get to focus entirely on what really matters in a portrait - shapes and values.

Here's my practical tip: choose a dark color for monochromatic work. You can always add water to make any dark color light, but you can't make a light color dramatically darker. This blue gave me the full range I needed, from the palest whisper of color to rich, deep shadows.

The Notan App: My Secret Weapon for Value Simplification

Now, you might be wondering how I managed to find my way around this little face without any initial sketch. The answer lies in a fantastic tool called a Notan app. This little gem converts your reference photo into simplified values - you can push it to just black and white, or (my preference) set it to about five values.

Instead of getting overwhelmed by every tiny detail, I could see clear shapes: "This area is white paper, this section needs light blue, this shadow area gets the full-strength pigment." It's like having a roadmap for your painting that keeps you focused on the big picture rather than getting lost in the weeds.

You can even achieve a similar effect by putting your phone camera in grayscale mode - sometimes the simplest tools are the most powerful!

Embracing the 30-Minute Rule: Why Speed Became My Friend

Here's something I learned that completely changed my artistic practice: giving myself just 30 minutes to complete each Inktober painting was a game-changer. Yes, that meant my usual "no hair dryer" rule went straight out the window, but more importantly, it kept me from that dangerous territory of overworking.

When you know you only have half an hour, every brushstroke has to count. There's no time for second-guessing, no opportunity to fidget with tiny details that don't actually improve the painting. It forces confidence - and sometimes that's exactly what we need.

The Surreal Surprise: When Baby Faces Look Like "The Scream"

Can I share a funny moment with you? At one point during this painting, before the features really came together, this sweet baby portrait looked remarkably like that famous Edvard Munch painting "The Scream." That stretched, almost otherworldly quality that happens when you're working loose and letting the paint do its thing.

It's a perfect reminder that the painting process isn't always pretty. Sometimes our work has to pass through some pretty strange territories before it arrives at its destination. Don't panic during those weird middle stages - trust the process!

Finding the Art-Work Balance: Why Inktober Can Be a Great Artistic Endeavor

Let me step onto my soapbox for just a moment here, because this is something I'm passionate about. As working artists, it can be incredibly difficult to separate the art we make for pure joy from the art we make for galleries, clients, or educational content. There's always that little voice asking, "But how will this make money?"

Inktober gave me permission to just... create. Thirty minutes of pure artistic exploration without the weight of commercial expectations. And you know what? Those quick, playful studies sharpened my confidence in ways that months of "serious" work never could.

If you're feeling that same art-versus-work tension, I encourage you to carve out some time - even just 30 minutes - to make art purely for yourself.

Technical Treasures: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference

Working on this sweet little face taught me some valuable technical lessons. For the eyes, I went in dark first, then used a clean brush to lift out highlights for that glassy, lifelike shine. It's amazing how that one simple technique can bring so much life to a portrait.

And here's something crucial I learned: paint what you see, not what you think you see. We tend to make eyes too big in portraits because we place so much emotional importance on them. Luckily, with babies, you can get away with slightly oversized eyes because, well, babies do have proportionally large eyes! (Just one more reason babies are perfect portrait subjects.)

The Cheek-Squeezing Inspiration Behind It All

I have to share the real inspiration behind this showing this piece now of all times - my beautiful little niece Raylah, who's currently 2,000 miles away and sporting the most squeezable chubby cheeks you've ever seen. She's at that magical "goo goo ga ga" stage with mochi-soft cheeks that just beg to be gently squished.

Sometimes our art is a love letter to the people we can't be with, a way of holding onto those precious moments and feelings even when distance separates us.

Your Turn to Embrace the Challenge

I challenge you to try this approach: pick one color you love, grab a reference photo (I recommend those wonderful copyright-free sites like Unsplash or Pixabay), set a timer for 30 minutes, and just go for it. No sketch, no overthinking, just you, your brush, and the adventure of discovery.

Until next time, keep painting with courage and curiosity!

P.S. - Raylah, if you're reading this in about 15 years, Auntie Valerie loves you to the moon and back, and yes, I'm still going to want to squeeze those cheeks! 💙