Aug 1 - Going to the Dogs Lesson Painting Continues

I emphasize the value structure and impact a painting needs to have to really be worthy for a second, closer look. Although not set in stone, as many artists make a body of work that doesn't have this feature, I believe that for "most" artists, a strong value structure will carry the day.

At this point I'm painting big shapes of a particular value to hold together the structure of the coming details. You saw the source material yesterday, so you know at least in your mind, what is coming. But at this stage, look at the beautiful brushwork on the right side, and the subtle complementary colors of orange and blue in that lower right section of dark! Wow. No matter how detailed the dog becomes, that area will be a secondary area of interest. No dog eyelashes yet! Details come later, after the value structure is in place. All of this so far has been done with the cool box colors.

This is fun, painting with the juicy Classic Artist Oils. I still love acrylics, both Open and traditional, yet it is such fun to do a thick, juicy oil to mix it up.

I had a wonderful visit from a former student who graciously credits me with giving him direction when he needed it about ten years ago. Frank Stockton is an editorial illustrator now living in New York, and his imagery is on the cover of Communication Arts this month. The link will take you to the magazine's page where you'll see him and his work. Teaching has so many rewards, and knowing Frank has been at the top of the list lately. Check his web site and look over his list of clients! He admits that there was a lot of hard work to get where he is now.

Congratulations to Roy Renfro of Plano, Texas, on his purchase of the plein air Rocks painting which has been added to his collection of Elins!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

July 31 - Going to the Dogs!

I'm starting this 9 x 12 oil of one of the two Teddy Roosevelt Terriers today, as I am enjoying the "recuperation" from my birthday a few days ago... turning "of an age" can be solemn, or it can be a bit crazy. I took the latter path...no surprise.

So today, to do penance if I were so inclined to think like that, I'm going to the dogs! Inspiration for this painting came literally "right under my feet". In the leg space under my roll top desk (where I sit typing this) there's a donut dog bed and I glanced down and saw Onslow in a familiar sleeping position. So I took out my camera and lights, and took several images, adjusting the lighting and shooting without a flash. The source material is below. Total comfort!

The linen canvas was scumbled with an under layer of ultramarine blue, burnt umber and yellow ochre, setting the tone for the colors to come. This scheme will be with the Color System, and I'll keep the complimentary dominance of blue/orange and yellow/purple to make it work.

You can see I don't spend a lot of time drawing, although for this unusual pose I did do a sketch in my sketchbook to lock down the location of all those airborne paws. The painting is coming along nicely now.

There may be one or more spaces in the Sebastopol Color Boot Camp in August--less than two weeks before I head up north of San Francisco to both give a painting demonstration in Ukiah, and then the workshop and demonstration in Sebastopol. Please let me know if you'd like a dose of "Yellin' by Elin" in this Color Boot Camp workshop. Please contact me using the email link below, and I'll forward your interest to the person in charge. I hope to meet some of you there!

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.