Two Still-Life paintings

"Cherub"

Oil on canvas - 11" x 14"

"Red Sash"

Oil on canvas - 20" x 24"

So I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of still-life paintings, although I acknowledge there are some really great still-life painters around with awesome skill. But when you don't always have living, breathing human beings at the ready you do what you need to do to keep painting. So here are 2 modest attempts at setting up and painting some still-lifes.

Am I happy with these? Again as usual the answer seems to be yes and no. I feel as though I learned some things which is good. But I also know there are some things that I'm not crazy about. Even though I knew after I had started that things were not going as I'd hoped I decided to stick with it. I find that even if I am frustrated during the course of doing a painting, if I stick with it to completion I'm better off, because often even if I'm overall dissatisfied with the painting, good things do happen. It can be a bit of a roller-coaster ride emotionally. So I try to commit to finishing a painting almost always, no matter what.

I do think that 20" x 24" though is too big a painting for me to tackle at this stage. It really taxes your concentration and the buildup of frustration can be tough to ride through. Especially if you only have a few hours a night to paint.

AG Creative Gallery Show

American Greetings, the company I work for, has a company gallery that they make available for any of the artists who have a desire to display their work. The artists do have to submit examples of their work beforehand for review for appropriateness and sufficient quality. 

Around a year ago I approached a couple of friends/co-workers to see if they would want to do a show together. We all agreed. I thought it would be a good goal and a good way to motivate myself to continue painting over the year. It has been. When you know you have all that empty wall space that has to be filled it is a great motivator. I managed to get ten paintings completed and framed so I felt that wasn't too bad. I would have had more but I actually gave some away as gifts. I don't think I'll be doing that too much in the future.

Anyway I participated in the show with Cindy Patton, who did some really nice pastels of outdoor scenes as well as some nice still-lifes in watercolor and oils, and with Todd Pollino who does some really great watercolors of nostalgic looking businesses that he has come across over the years.

Cody

"Cody"

Oil on Canvas Paper - 11" x 14"

This was a 2 hour long study with some touching up after the sitting. I'd say the portrait was about 90% done after the 2 hours so I think my speed is improving. 

I've been harping a lot on speed and I'm not sure that's a proper emphasis. Some really great paintings look as though they were done quickly but it's not the case. Anyway, I think as long as I do things in a measured way I'll be all right.

Nifty Little Painting Station

As I've been trying to gradually put together a painting studio at home I realized I needed some kind of decent painting station to work from. I began looking at most of the usual art supply websites and I just couldn't find one I either liked, or was willing to shell out the kind of money they were asking for, especially based on where I was from an (in)experience standpoint. 

Anyway, so I'm out shopping for some cheap item, I can't even remember what it was, and decided to check out Wal-Mart, when what do I spy but this little number they sell as a Kitchen island station. 

Just what the doctor ordered! It was right around a hundred bucks. Way less dinero and more efficient than anything I'd found up to that point. I ordered a sheet of glass with a ground edge for about $15 to use as my palette and I really love this thing. It's got storage, a flip-up shelf/work area, a drawer which will hold lots of paint, and cabinets for other stuff. It's on casters that lock so you can move it around and lock it into place. It also has a towel bar. Not quite big enough for paper towels, but that's okay for me.

If you're at Wal-Mart check it out and see if I'm not right on this one.

Madison

"Madison"

Oil on Canvas Paper - 11" x 14"

This is my most recent portrait done of a lovely young lady who posed at the Friday afternoon figure painting session at Bay Arts. For those that have seen this painting before under a different title, I had to make one up at the time as I did not catch her name. I've since found out it was "Madison" so there you go.  :-)

Once again, I did not complete it in the 3 hours the session is held, but I'd say it was about 80% done. I did have to re-do the drawing somewhat at home as I noticed that her nose had gotten too long in my original attempt. But I managed to keep all my color notes intact as well as the basic feel of that original sitting. I did some dry scumbling which I've been avoiding doing because I want to keep the painting wet as much as possible. I know it's not the case, but glazing and scumbling feel like cheating to me, but then that's just my hang up. 

Overall I think I'm most pleased with this one so far. I've managed to let some greenish tones show through the skin tone. Much easier since she was rather olivey in her complexion. Mike Malm once said to me (he may not have been the first to say this) that "value does all the work but color gets all the credit." Meaning if your values are dead on, it allows you to push the color in ways you may not necessarily see in nature, but it will still appear right.

I'm trying to do that. I think I had some success here. I hope so anyway.  :-)