measuring up

Now that fall is here and the sun is setting earlier..it is time to revisit the figure sessions again at our local art center. Looking back on the last 3 or 4 years..I can say that my recording of the human figure in graphite, charcoal, watercolor and various other media has improved. It's all about observation, relationships and measuring!

seasons change

A quick sketch of a peony shrub..this way done last year when the peonies were so early. This year I think they were right on time. Fall seems a bit early to me...but that's because summer just zoomed by!

Feedback

The show opening went well last night...there is quite a variety of work by numerous artists. It's always nice to hear feedback about your work...it seems my new direction was a pleasant surprise for people. So here's to continued growth and exploration of unique subject matter! (French fisherman 8"x8")

Shake it up

Well hello everyone! That was quite the blogging break...sometimes that's needed. I did this painting earlier this year and it will now be in a show that opens tomorrow. I wonder what the reaction will be to my expanding subject matter...I do have two floral pieces in the show in addition to two figures and one landscape! shaking it up a bit! ("Weathered" 15"x22")

show work

Hope everyone had a good Labor Day..I've put together 5 pieces for an upcoming show and this is one of the paintings..."elongated lilies" 22"x15". I'll be sporadically posting for the next little while, taking a short blogging break, but I will be photographing some new work and hopefully painting a bunch.

Double pose

Some more pieces where I've applied the pigment differently than usual...this was done during the Jeannie McGuire workshop...I got such a kick out of using white and mixing it with my other colors...I can see where I could get in trouble, though...never knowing when to stop for one!

Tag-line

As you can see the figure painting obsession continues...This was cool to do because of the graffiti.. I used a watercolor pencil and crayon to "write" in the letters behind the bearded guy. I even signed my name on the lower right side of the wall in a tagging style...well maybe sort of, but a graffiti artist I'm not (12"x12")

Making it up

This painting was done from a photograph of my grandmother...it doesn't really look like her, but it's been fun to have a really strong black and white image to work from..this way I'm not influenced by color choices and I can make it up as I go along...

one-minute

Here are some one-minute studies that we do to open up the drop in figure sessions...this was the first time I actually just "drew" with my brush...I like a few of these and there is potential for future exploration.

pigment play

This was an experiment in taking away pigment...the white shirt of the person under the umbrellas and the highlights of the items around the figures was all pigment applied and then later lifted with a damp brush. You can also see some of that in the figures by the water.

floral journey

Tropical Flowers...I don't know what kind they are, but they were such a beautiful color...I'm going to start back on a floral journey...teaching a workshop next week...so it's time to jump back in and leave the portraits behind for a little while.

camera reference

Here is a small study I did from my camera of a picture I took in Portofino Italy. It wasn't easy, because the camera kept shutting off to conserve energy! Next time..print the picture...it'll be easier!

Looks like...

The portrait painting has really grabbed me...I hope you can endure some more from me...This was done from a photograph that Jeannie McGuire provided..it's her daughter, but I think it ended up looking more like Keira Knightley...love the movie she's in: "Love Actually".

keep it going

Here is another from the workshop...more than unfinished, but a good start...now that I know that you can just keep adding color, opaque, white, scrub away etc..etc.. I can just keep working and working and working, but I think the paper might get a bit tired...

New techniques

This piece was done during a Jeannie McGuire workshop. Her painting just won the Gold Medal of honor award at the AWS annual show. I really enjoyed trying some new techniques..she piles on the pigment, using opaque and transparent colors...using large flat brushes and putting paint down and taking paint away. It was an eye opening experience and made me experiment and try new things...(like titanium white!)

"Reaching out"

(15"x17") This is a painting I did in May during an open studio event. I have so many photographs of different flowers, that I can paint any blossom any time of year...which is kind of nice..since our winters here in Vermont are 9 months long! well sort of, not really, but long enough!

Subject exploration

This was a gentleman selling fish in Marseille..I have done some others of him with his hat on..so this is him "unhatted" so to speak..I'll paint him some more...he's a good subject...

lounging

Lounging in the sun...that's what we all need a bit of now and then..this is another Mexican sketch from earlier this year...My postings will be a bit sporadic these next few weeks...I realize I missed this past Friday as well... so stick with me and check in to see what's new...soon