6x8"
oil on canvas
$125
I tend to take things literally. It's a problem. When my mother worried I was weird because I spent most of my time alone in my room with an 18x24" pad of the best ever nubbly paper and a collection of 4, 5 and 6B pencils, she insisted I join my cousin's 4-H Club. I had no interest but off I went. I was given the job of secretary at our first meeting. When we adjourned, the pres asked me to read the minutes back. I looked at my watch and promptly shot back... "25!"
Today's theme for dailypainters.com is obvious, no?
6x6"
oil on canvas
$125
Bugfest marches on. I tried this one on canvas and found that linen works best. Obviously a nub-less surface would work best for little bug arms and legs, I know this, but I was out of linen and I felt decidedly buggy today. Still, methinks the Lady would have faired significantly better on a smooth surface. Typical, my love/hate relationship with linen has turned to love again, just in time for spring!
16x20"
oil on canvas
sold
Another past commission. I'm actually working today, but didn't finish in time, so I thought Casey might be a suitable standin. In my early days of pet portraiture, I received some blown- out snaps from clients. Scanning them into Photoshop and pumping up the hue saturation sometimes helps but it can often add too much color to the true shade of the dog's coat. This is a great example. The discoloration under Casey's eye wasn't nearly as deep, but happily the client loved it. What I usually do now is print out the pumped-up shot along with the original and use them both as reference, hoping to land somewhere in the middle.
6x8"
oil on canvas
$150
It seems a change of scenery is just what the doc ordered. Still upstairs and actually sticking to a schedule! Why, when one spends time, money, and energy creating a comfortable, attractive and orderly work space, why does one work better in a crowded bedroom on an aluminum easel? Very strange, but typical. Who cares, I'm working.
This is another painting done from one of Tracey's photos. Dramatic and I think a tad plush, but a needed respite from the bugs. It went much more quickly than I anticipated, but that could be because I let it completely dry before applying another coat. Perhaps one more light dusting of highlights?
10x10"
oil on linen
$125
I admit it. The bugs are beginning to get easy. Yes, I did easy today. I just heard myself say, "yeah, so?" I'm the only one setting the ridiculously high expectations that I never seem to live up to. As much as I'd like to blame it on the voice, let's face it, it's mine. Can't blame this one on Mom.
One thing that I'm noticing is the fear of a blank canvas is dissipating. I'm still anxious but the anticipation of painting is beginning to overshadow the fear. This is good.
16x20"
oil on canvas
sold
The second in the trampoline series. Obviously, the more often one does something the more proficient one becomes doing it. While working on this piece, I time traveled back almost ten years to a painting I was working on, also a figure study. I used to start with the eyes and from that point until completion, I'd simply match the colors and shapes I saw. If there were a shadow, I would paint the shadow, meaning I'd render the shadow—carefully studying the color and temperature transitions until I came to a different section and the process would begin again. When the painting was completed it was more like a patchwork quilt of different pieces that came together to make a whole.
Fast forward to the present and I still start with the eyes, but more as a landmark to anchor the remaining shapes to. A circle underneath the eye then becomes part of the structure that holds the eye in the socket, not a half-moon shape pasted below the bottom lid. I'm beginning to see that my work is becoming more cohesive, less partitioned and is finally starting to take on the "painterly" qualities I've always longed for.
Himself used to snap: "I'd like to see one painting leave this house with one brush stroke still in tact. Now I understand what he meant.
10x10"
oil on linen
$125
The bugfest continues! I'm finding them an artful oasis from laboring over a likeness or blotting in a background. Also believe eliminating a signature adds to the drama or lack thereof in this case—allowing the bug a solitary journey across the canvas. I've been mulling over just signing the side or back of the canvas lately anyway as sometimes I think my signature detracts from the composition.
Had a change of scenery this week, workwise that is. Long story having to do with Moogis.com, the Allmans run at the Beacon and watching all the shows live on the plasma—the new iMac being the magic box making this all possible. So, the plasma residing upstairs made it necessary for me, my paints, brushes, canvases etc. to migrate along with the iMac to the top floor as well. A moment of praise for those lightweignt, inexpensive aluminum easles.
As the week progressed, it became obvious that occassionally I need to shake up my surroundings. This weeks' work was blissfully free of all the ridiculous imaginary roadblocks I place in my way, simply because my surroundings were different!
We attach feelings to inanimate objects and environments, at least I do anyway, and I realized I have been painting the studio in a negative coat of doubt. Think I'll slightly rearrange the furniture and maybe burn some incense when I return next week.
