May 03, 2014

Some New Studies and a Finish

So I haven't posted much of anything in a while. But it's not because I haven't been painting at all. I have, just not as much as usual. I've been busy with other things. Life mostly. But I still try to get into my studio to paint, even if it's only for an hour or two at the end of the day. Even if I'm dog tired I still find that I want to get back to it and it usually revives me. I'm a little OCD these days when it comes to painting. I very much do want to get better and so even if I'm not actually painting I will spend a lot of my day just either thinking about it or researching great paintings and artists on the web that inspire me.

One thing I discovered in my research that some may find interesting is a live stream of a drawing demo that takes place on Friday nights. The demo is put on by Jeffrey Watts, an excellent artist from California who has both an online atelier and a brick and mortar school where he and his talented staff of instructors teach. You can check out the demo here:

http://www.wattsatelier.com/friday-night-live-workshop/

I know. Not everyone's idea of a rocking Friday night. But for art geeks like me it's pretty cool. 

Sheesh, I need serious help.

Anyway, here are a few recent efforts. Each has a different level of finish, but I think that's okay because my objectives were different in each one. This first one is of a co-painter at Bay Arts. We had no model that day so he offered to sit for us. A great model he was too.

This study is quite rough and loose but I did try to keep it a little more impressionistic. I don't think I'll be trying to refine it. I'll just file it in the back of my head as I think I know where my problem areas are in this one. Still I think I managed to capture a fair likeness.



The next one is also one of our Friday models. I took this one home and worked on it a bit but not that much. The photo is a tad dark as you can't even see the highlights I put into her braid. Yes, she has a braid and not just short hair. also, the color is a bit off as the light color in the background is a somewhat brighter blue. All in all fairly satisfied with this one. I played with softening the features in the face as well as keeping some of the edges softer in strategic spots.



This last one is of a beautiful young girl of Indian descent who posed at the workshop I took in Scottsdale. I did a color study while there and took some pictures too so that I could go home and finish it up. I'm not unhappy with this one but I think I may just take another crack at it and try a slightly different approach. You'll have to wait and see.


 Thanks for taking a look.

3 comments:

  1. I love the impressionistic look in the top one. I by no means consider myself an artist of your caliber, but that type of painting is hardest for me.

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  2. Thanks so much. I'm not really sure what my caliber is. Just trying my best to learn and get better while doing reasonably pleasing work. My dream is to one day do work that points people to something bigger than themselves. The source of this thing we call beauty and creativity, but without being overt or heavy-handed. It's a lofty goal, I know. Maybe even foolish. But I feel truly blessed as well so why shoot for less?

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  3. I think that's a fabulous dream. We were created by the ultimate artist. You cannot look at creation without seeing that fact. You have a gift. Use it to it's fullest.

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