First Weekend of December

It's been a while since I painted in oils at the open studio... and it's been a while since I was there at all.  There's a lot of warming up to do still.  Painted this past Friday, live model posed for about 3 1/2 hours.

Easter Weekend

These are charcoal sketches from yesterday's Open Studio at Warehouse 521.

Our model was great in holding poses and these were the last three sketches I did of him.  The first two were 20 minute sessions and the last one was 60 minutes.

Last Post for 2014

Poinsettia - 5" x 7", oil on gesso panel

This has been a busy year in many ways and I'm looking forward to 2015.

Here's to a more productive New Year and peace, love and happiness to all!

Day 13 - Painting #4

Beyoncé - 6" x 6", oil on gesso panel

Four paintings in 13 days?  I have no shame, life happens and I float adrift.

Beyonce is a beautiful subject and the desire to get her perfect is huge.

My next subject will be easier... please.

Day 4 - Painting #3

Justin Timberlake - 6" x 6", oil on gesso panel

Painting Justin was difficult (maybe because I skipped a day of painting).  He started out well, but really didn't look like him, so I wiped away most of the paint and started again.  The painting was still difficult and to make matters worse, while I was working on it, I realized that the theme I chose of "famous musicians/vocalists" was going to be super tough, because the paintings all REALLY-have-to-look-like-them (because everyone knows what they look like).  It's a good challenge!

Day 2 (or 3) - Painting #2

Joni Mitchell - 6" x 6", oil on gesso board

I've loved Joni since Hejira.  I had the Court and Spark album and was familiar with her earlier stuff, but there was something about Hejira that made me listen (to it) over and over.  I still listen to it.

Day 1 - Painting #1

Jimi Hendrix - 6" x 6", oil on gesso board

Today is the first day of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Thank goodness there are no rules (and no guilt) if we're not able to step up to the challenge each day.  It is a way to get one to paint more often, improve our skills and painting frequency.  My theme will be music personalities.  I'll try to keep up, but I'll have a good excuse if I can't.

Friday Painting

Anne - 16" x 12", oil on linen panel

Warehouse 521 hosts open studios on Fridays (when there aren't workshops scheduled).

It's four and a half hours (breaks and lunch in that too) of putting our skills to work

in the company of other artists.  We always have fun!

Thanks to Jeanie Smith for providing us with this space.

So Ready For Winter To Be Over

Pineapple Expression - 10" x 8", oil on board

Two plus months of below average temperatures have made me stir-crazy.

I looked at this pineapple in my still-life space for a couple of days, hoping that the color would improve as it ripened.  It did in the lower part of the fruit, but the upper leaves started to wilt and dry.  After looking for a better one at the grocery, I decided mine was the best so it was time to paint.  I spent two afternoons on this and while I was thinking of a name for it, I heard the news about Seth Rogen dutifully testifying before a mostly absent Congress about Alzheimer's research.  That's when this title hit me.  The frowning side of the tiki glass (smile on other side) reflects my disdain for the cold weather as well as how Seth must have felt with the no-show senators.

A Trip in the Way-back Machine

John, 12" x 10.5", pen & ink on illustration board

In moving things around to make room for painting, I found this pen & ink sketch from my art school days, circa 1981.  I thought it was timely, since yesterday was the 50 year anniversary of the Beatles making their Ed Sullivan Show appearance.  This was drawn shortly after John was killed that previous December of '80.  I have a pastel version of it too, much larger, behind glass in a frame that I need to photograph and digitize.

Monday Portrait Session

Substitute Model, approx. 11" x 12", oil on linen

We were lucky to have Pat as our live model this past session.

The pose was about two hours long with a little tweaking the following day.

Family Portrait

The Stringer-Hyes, 20" x 30", oil on linen

Delivered!

This portrait is from a snapshot taken about 17 years ago.

They are personal friends and I was happy to get this to them

before the holiday was over.

  

Christmas Greetings

Snowman Music Box - 6" x 6", oil on board

So this is Christmas.  I can't believe it's here again so soon.

This is a ceramic music box that I found in my mom's belongings that had been in storage.

I've still been painting, just in a class or group situation.

I hope to remedy that this coming new year by painting more on my own,

and as I do, I'll be posting more.

Merry, merry to all of you!!

Figure Drawing

Life Drawing

Same model (looks younger in second sketch), 30 minute poses.

Graphite and Conté on Canson.

Community Education classes at Watkins.

Stone Angel

Guardian Angel - 9" x 12" oil on linen panel

She's beginning to take shape after little sessions—

most of them in Jody Thompson's class at SouthGate Studio.

Handmade Light Box

This was a recent weekend project.

It's made out of 3/16" Gator Board, white Duck Tape and interfacing material (used in sewing).

I was inspired after seeing Carol Marine's PVC shadowbox on her studio blog.

The above was my first thinking sketch.

Having limited space to work, I wanted something that I could fold up and store easily.

I needed five cut pieces of Gator Board, 24" x 24" each.

Three of them would have 19" square openings cut in them (2.5" border/frame).

I cut these with an X-Acto knife, using a long metal straight edge with protective lip 

(keep from cutting my fingers).

Now, Gator Board cut edges can be sharp, so I lightly sanded the cut edges and

covered them all with white Duck tape for a smooth finish and to add strength to the sides.

Then I cut the interfacing material and taped that to cover the openings.

My next sketch was figuring out how to put the pieces together.

As you can see, the bottom is a solid piece.

I then laid the right (window) side down flat on top of the bottom piece.  

I used two pieces of Duck Tape to flap-attach it to the bottom

(tape should be wrapped flat over edges of the board).

I then opened 'fold #1' (edges of the two boards should be touching each other),

and put matching pieces of Duck Tape over the same hinge area.

The hinges get wider with the extra layers of board as they are stacked to create this box.

Each fold has to be opened up as you tape on the matching pieces of the hinges

to cover up the sticky tape areas left exposed by this extra space.

I know this must sound confusing, but if you try this out first with

smaller square cut pieces of board (like maybe a 6" x 6" version),

before tackling the big job, it won't be so frustrating.

Being mechanically inclined helps.

The box can be set up with some masking tape holding it together.

The masking tape can be removed and thrown away after use.  

I used three lights shining into the box at the window openings.

The fabric diffuses the light.  A cool light is on either side and a warm one above.

You can see the two hinges that hold the folded boards together at the bottom of this.

You might want to use some vellum paper to cover the windows instead of interfacing.

You could drape thin white fabric over the openings and pull it aside for direct lighting 

(use more masking tape to hold the box together with the weight of loose fabric).

I use a studio lamp on it's stand to shine light down into the top of the box.

The hinges on the bottom of the back side have extra tape sticking out as

they have to wrap around the edges of all five pieces of board when closed

(the top window folds down flat on the back and then both of

these fold down on all the other pieces when flattening the box,

so the solid bottom and back pieces are protecting the window pieces inside).

The lights that I use on either side are these small folding Ott Lites

that I bought at Michael's.

You can photograph your smaller paintings while they lean against the back panel or

objects that you want to paint.

Use sheets of color paper stock against the back and bottom

to change out the background.

You will end up with a light box that can be folded up completely when not in use,

and the folded thickness is that of five 3/8" pieces of board, almost two inches thick.

Cardboard can be used instead of Gator board, but it won't be nearly as strong.

Foamcore will warp.  Gator Board is a bit costly, but good for this.

Besides, you'll have extra Gator Board left over to mount your canvas on for painting.

Portrait Sketch

Guitarist - 14" x 17" oil on linen

This week's live model portrait session.  Three hours... fun!

Breakfast Shadows

Coffee and Bagel - 12" x 12" oil on gessobord

From an early morning breakfast at a nearby coffee shop.  The sun coming in the windows makes interesting shadows on everything.

Angel in Progress

In the works from Jody's class at SouthGate Studio, an angel in stone.  The Chestnut Group had a paint out on New Year's Day at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.  Being the day after New Year's Eve, I didn't get up and out very early.  By the time I did, it was so windy and cold that I thought arming myself with the camera would be my best bet.  This is from a photo taken from the car (I'm such a wimp) of a beautiful monument bathed in sunlight.  This is the preliminary painting and becoming much tighter as time goes on.

9" x 12" oil on canvas panel

Happy Holidays!

Hoping that this season is full of love, peace and happiness for you!

6" x 6" oil on gessoboard