Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sep 22 - Girl Feeding Chickens

It's almost finished, and I wanted to share it with you, so that you'll have a comparison from the one two days ago. The canvas is completely covered now, and all that remains to be done is to make each of the larger shapes in the composition "stand on its own" in visual interest. If I left those passages Plain Jane, I'd not be happy with it--would you say, "boring"? The variations on those areas may be subtle, but I always think they are necessary to have a canvas that really sends a message of a great work.

I'm sitting in the studio, hunkered down for one of those Santana wind conditions outside--dry, hot, windy weather--the nemesis of Southern California in the fall. But I've cleared the perimeter of our land, and Vincent van Goat and his friend Heather have taken down a lot of the overgrowth outside our fences. Preparation is the key when faced with any calamity, and I run through my mind the steps I'd take if I needed to evacuate--animals, crates, etc.

There are six people in the November workshop so it is a GO (not that there was any doubt!). Got Color? How about a Color Boot Camp? Direct link below.

Speaking of animals, when the hot weather comes on, Seiko (the watch) dog comes into the studio to keep cool. Here she is on the other side of my taboret snoozing away--snoring to the beat of "Beast of Burden" by the Stones. That's 105 pounds of Tibetan Mastiff. We ask her where she wants to go. Good dog.

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

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sep 20 - Continuing the Chicken Girl

I mentioned that this painting is falling off my brushes, and it certainly seems so tonight. I've been working on some of the color notes in the girl's dress, the three lower chickens and the white bird. I'm especially pleased with how the light is coming through the tail on that one, and included a detail image of that part of the painting so you can see how it is done. Cools, with yellow ochre and then going to the warms where the light actually is on the edges. Fun to do! That Color System makes it easy. Who would have thought to put the ochre there? And yet it works.

I've been listening to the Rolling Stones. Somehow soothing to reach into one's past and listen to the beat of those (now) ancient rockers--connecting a lifeline to survival mode. Painting is an escape, a return to knowledge and certainty for me. "Let me please introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste...."

Too bad there isn't a horse in this painting, I might think it ought to go to the American Academy of Equine Art show. I'm having so much fun making GOOD paintings lately.

Here's the detail shot of the unfinished white chicken. You can see how I first put in the larger color notes to hold down the shapes. Of course, the shadowed sides are the Cool Box, and the sunlit edges are from the Warm Box in the Color System! I'll come back and put in the blends, calligraphic marks, and wrap this painting up in the next few days.

My love for painting is only superseded by my gratitude for my dear and close friends out here in cyberspace. Thanks for coming along on this journey with me--you are very special right now!

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.