5x7"
oil on board
NFS
So many things to explain. Mostly I'm scrambling because this didn't turn out at all as I had planned. In an effort to dispatch with those bothersome dots, we purchased a copy board. It worked very well last night. I re-shot "Crabbed," and re-posted it. Huge difference in quality. So today, I scrambled to finish this because I couldn't wait to see how it photographed on the new copy board. Hmmmm. Not well...not well at all. The copy board and linen on board are much like oil and water. Every single imperfection, piece of lint, party-crashing piece of hair and brush stroke is evident and screaming "look at me!!" Still struggling with the board it seems. But I give myself snaps for not bailing.
Anyway, I snapped it old school and it worked better. Still, this isn't at all what I envisioned. This was done from a photo I downloaded so it isn't for sale. The photo was so dramatic, the pose was perfect and the subject is quite possibly, for me, one of the best musicians ever to pick up an instrument.
I'm a Duane Allman disciple, so when Derek Trucks appeared on the scene with that touch, that incredible ability, I was hooked. I didn't get into his work until he was into his late teens. He started playing professionally at age eleven I believe. Anyway, there's no posturing, no posing, no histrionics, no drug or alcohol-induced disappointments and no star-trip. The man is there for the music and he takes you places you didn't think existed.If you get a chance to see him with his band, with the Allmans, or with his wife, Susan Tedeschi, do not miss it.
I'll wait for it to dry and spruce it up a bit. I still have a long way to go with the boards, but I do see improvement. I'd like to find a surface somewhere in-between canvas and linen on board, although I do have better results with stretched linen as opposed to linen on board. Perhaps I'll try this same one on that! More to come on this. I want to be completely satisfied when I'm done.
5X7"
oil on canvas
sold
Finally! I'm actually posting a new painting! Things are getting back into focus. I decided to work on this last night even if is was still wet. It was, but somehow it all worked out.
Stone Crab Legs! Need I say more? Less guilt but lots of green. They harvest just the legs so all I'm plagued with is the vision of these poor things stumbling around the ocean floor with no appendages. Even that isn't enough to make me swear off these gifts from the gods. The cost is ridiculous, as is shipping and handling...but the taste? Oh my! They come complete with little wooden mallets and the most incredible mustard sauce known to mankind. We serve them with a crisp white wine, don our matching, brightly-colored, chili-adorned aprons, lay newspaper out on the table and have at it. Words simply cannot describe how good these are.
The first thing I thought when I saw the salmon pink, ivory, and black was mid-century bathroom colors followed quickly by dailies. The rich black of the tips against the salmon and ivory is stunning if you can get past the sad vision of dismembered digits. But, just one taste and the guilt melts away, for a little while anyway. Enjoy.
11X14"
oil on canvas
SOLD
I'm posting yet another commission from the recent past. I just can't seem to get caught up! The hubs had, what turned out to be, a minor health scare, but facing the possibility that it wasn't minor sure took the wind out of one's sails. I'm on high-appreciation alert and plan to stay there for quite a bit. Obviously, painting took a back seat. He's fine now, thank God, and I guess I'm showing signs of normalcy as I accused him of hogging the remote last night. I did find out that nothing I do still doesn't matter unless he's there to see it. A truly amazing man.
Anyway, the dailies I've got going are still very wet and it looks as though it'll be weeks before they even think about drying enough to continue on. The medium I'm using really extends drying time. I'm all jammed up about the varnishing issue. The voice is screeching "hack!" The house is a mess. It's been raining for a week. I'm behind on commissions but!... the graphic design job is actually going to print tomorrow. Arrrrghhhhh!
And why, at a time like this, do I feel I need to re-think my whole approach to painting and art? I'm haunted. I have angst! I'm back to normal.
18X24"
oil on canvas
$350
This one was one of the first paintings I did after I left my nine to five. The owner of the local "in" eatery liked to support local artists and allowed wall space on a monthly basis. I was, as usual, low on confidence and high on fear, but it turned out just fine. Lots of interest but no sales. Still, I enjoyed the experience and found out I could actually speak to people about my work. Big growth spurt at the time.
42x14"
oil on canvas
NFS
This was sort of a test piece. I've cropped the canvas here as it got weird in places. I did this about eight to ten years ago, I think. Water mixable oils on a ragged home-stretched canvas. I saw this photo in one of those British glossy magazines that I used to be addicted to. Ok, so I still sort of am, but I'm getting help.
Anyway the blue skies, bright clothing, white clouds and green trees and grass against black skin caught my eye and I thought it would be fun to paint. And it was. Looking at it now I like the spontaneous treatment of shadow and light on the clothing but cringe at the flat green and blue of the trees and sky. Also, the line continued from edge to edge and the lens created a fishbowl effect on both sides—which explains the aforementioned weirdness.
At the time it was completely beyond my comprehension that I could use the photo as a base and create my own vision, sort of like a really good stock that gives birth to legendary chicken soup. Obviously the painting wouldn't have been legendary, but it would have been infinitely more interesting and made more sense if the folks on either end weren't leaning in towards themselves, but it was fun and now might possibly lead to other ideas, thanks to the dailies. Just a note here: I never offer paintings for sale that have been created from photographs that I haven't taken.
Still going on my dailies. If not tomorrow's post, then Friday's. I'm off to work some more before himself arrives home.
18x24"
pastel on paper
SOLD
This was my very first pet commission way, way back in the day. I cannot believe so much time has gone by! I'm not sharin' numbers, it's far too upsetting. Anyway, I was dedicated to pastels and would still be working with them, had I not caved and bought into the very incorrect and prejudicial concept that oils were more sophisticated, professional and sold more often. How silly is that? I've seen so many incredible pastel paintings since then! I love the medium. Not nearly as messy or dangerous for ones health as oil. But, I'm beginning to form a nice relationship with oils and have just begun to scratch the surface using them for dailies. I find my opinions on techinque, support and process changing, well...almost daily. Guess that's the point.
Anyway, I was terrified that someone actually commissioned me. I was a nervous wreck but I was happy with the results. I worked pretty consistently for about ten years with pastels, but I now prefer oil. We'll see, perhaps I'll try a pastel daily someday soon. Won't have to wait for it to dry before I can finish. Hmmmm.
24x20"
oil on canvas
SOLD
I'm sooooo far behind, it feels like I'll never, ever finish a painting a post in one day again! But, if I sit down, take a deep breath and look around the place, all is well. It's weird. I've been working very hard, but because I haven't posted a daily in almost 2 weeks, a real daily, not a commission, I feel like I've been watching tv and sitting on my rather substancial laurels for a month!
There is such a feeling of accomplishment for me now when I post a daily painting. The breaks I used to take between pieces could range anywhere from one week to fifteen years, so you can see it's important for me to keep it up. I remember my shrink telling me how important it was for me to work consistently. I ignored her and didn't pick up a brush for fifteen years.
Anyway, I said all that to say that I'll be posting really old work for the next few days until I can bring the dailies in progress to completion and once again post a new piece. Ahh, that will feel nice. Till then, this is another in a series of melons.
