November Girl

I've still been working on the small, dark, portraits through November.  Seems like a good thing to do when night falls mid-afternoon.  A sample from one in the works. 

Squirrel, Redder

This is the latest image of this one as it is nearing the home stretch.   The squirrel is quite a bit more saturated and leaves and branches added for a little depth and context.   Notice the difference? 

Shirt Change

Changed the color on the body/shirt on this one once again, with the latest version shown on the right. I feel like I'm about ready to call this one quits but, then again, you never know.   A link to the previous version is here.

Nightwatching

 

Two more steps past the very quick sketch. Quite a few ideas rattling about on where this one will go. 

Darker, More Saturated

After a few months judgment, this one was far too light.  Of course, I spent the last two steps lightening it to bring out volume, but the atmosphere was all but gone.  As the shadows get more saturated, it's really hard to see any color in the "black" areas of this digital image but, trust me, hues are quite visible in person.  The surface is a lot richer as well, but a there's a little ways to go before I can let this one go.

New Coat of Paint

 

You might recognize this one from a few days ago.   A full coat of paint and its rather different.  

Reworked (Owl)

Small to big changes from previous in terms of composition and color.  Defined a window, and then warmer tones took over the violet that was dominate before.  The surface on figure was almost completely reworked.  

Poor Edward

 

 

Another portrait start, based on Indanthrone blue. 

Down the Rabbit Hole

I've been making some rather big changes on a few of the fictional portraits that have been lying around.  Although I could have left well enough alone on this one from its previous state, I had envisioned defining a bit more of the space to place it in an interior and to divide the picture plane.  I loved the broken, expressive arm  in the earlier stage as well, but I didn't want it to be an issue.  It may be time for a shirt as well.  (On the guy, not the rabbit.)  With the old painting unraveling, a new adventure begins.  Its more complicated,  but far more interesting for me to work through.

Fresh Starts

An alternative title for the post could be "all about nothing" as I dare post three rudimentary starts in the name of process.   The first two are tiny by my standards, 10 x8 inches, and the last is another Kracow-size 20 x 24.  Far from nothing, settling on the color for is everything when I work in my nocturne-method of finding a particular violet to evoke mood before stumbling about to place the protagonist.  I had a more concrete vision for the third, so I dove right in sinopia-style, drawing to mark the canvas before I left for the night.  It doesn't get more mysterious than the first stage, so I'll re-post them with the second stage as each develops.

Abi 2, Beata 5

The sketchy start from Monday is now revealed:  Beata and Abi, again! Beata insisted that they be included in the new series so who I am to knock two beautiful (and free) models.  I've tired of self-portraits but I enjoy repeat portraits of my favorite models.  By my quick count, I think this makes Abi's second appearance in a painting, and Beata's fifth. Here's to many more!

New Coat

As promised, more snow, but a tad bit warmer with an identifiable coat now.  Subtle layers added to the face as well. 

Another One

Another fresh start for the Kracow cycle.  Stay tuned for updates.

Spots

Pretty subtle changes on this one, beefing up the form on the figure and the owl.  More spots and feathers on the owl.  A few more adjustments and this one might be very close to finished.  

The Lost Posts

While I've been in and out of the studio for the last month trying to dodge the heat, I have been obviously not blogging.   As the weather cools and head clears, I'll pledge to be somewhat more regular. You might remember this one, still pretty bleak but a tree has been added for company, and the suggestion of a cabin on the horizon, so all is not lost.  A nice winter coat is the next addition with some more snow....

Fat Man

I present the aforementioned big boy, 97% complete.   This may be the first post where I have shown this head on.  I brought in my wide angle lens, special, just so I could have room to take the shot.   (Hence the fish-eye distortion. A little bit of glare for you too.)  It's very similar to the smaller painting, which was not a study but a variation, shown in the previous post.  The difference in scale and impact, other than lighting, makes them very different animals all together.

Peek into the Woods

Here's a look at what I'm working on lately for the February show. It's 58x87 inches, and will most likely stay a landscape.   After reviewing everything that's likely to go in, it seems like I will have a pure landscape in every medium.   Pretty radical for me, since I identify as being a "figurative painter."  The landscapes act as punctuation for the other narratives, creating a space for rest.  They could be the view of the characters themselves, but they also act as point of entry for the viewer to become the protagonist.

Another Fall

I had this bit of woods on the wall for a while, and was long considering a figure in the clearing.  Inspired by the recent accident, we see another fellow with his ear to the ground.   Taking a nap in the winter usually is not a good idea, so he may just be listening to the snow.  Sometimes the ground just calls you. 

Shrinking Jogger

You may remember this one.   A night scene, waiting for someone to come for the longest time.   Suddenly, a young woman comes into the foreground.   I really liked the figure actually, she was loose and had just that touch of almost-Fraggonard in places that made made her something to keep.   However, I did not like he placement.   It really felt like a cop-out to keep her in the same plane as the tree.   I added snow to the tree as I had intended, but it was no solution.   Among other desperate thoughts, I considered cutting her out and keeping her under my pillow.   (It's on paper after all, and I am spending way too much time on these paper pieces.)   Consoled by the permanence of digital record, I told myself that I'd always have an image to reconstruct her somewhere else.  (Yet, it was the paint itself that made the hoodie so nice. ) So, keeping some of the same place (and paint), I projected her into the scene. A much better story is the result.  The writing rule of "kill your darlings" certainly applies to narrative painting. 

Accident

So I was working on this little linen painting. Two days before, the head was a green blob. (Really thought I took an image of that) The face developed rapidly, and I was imagining that it would go the way of eave; maybe he was just some guy leaning against a tree, catching his breath.  I didn't know why he was leaning into the tree so hard with his shoulder like that--I try not to question at this stage.











Anyways, still the same painting.  I was photographing a lot of little work for the blog, and was being lazy (or efficient) by placing this painting on its side to photograph since the camera was already on its side in the horizontal position.   I was immediately struck by how much more sense the image made.  There's nothing like lying in the snow, feeling ice against your cheek.  (Now that's a breather!) All that was lacking was some light and gravity.

With the paint still wet and the camera still on the tripod, I was compelled to make some quick changes.   Okay, so it's a little colder and maybe a wholly more pessimistic image, but that's what happened.   I may have to make more images of this situation to figure out what's going on.