A Little More Before The End of The Day/Week/Month

Last, but not least— I've been working on the sweater and hope to do more in a little while, but the natural light is fading and I wanted to get a shot of this one into the blog:

Daniel, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

In looking at the reference photo, the left side of the sweater has some shadow detail that is greatly influenced, color-wise, by the flesh color on the arm. I'm going to have to adjust for that. I was using a cool grey, but there's a lot of grey-pink.

Impatient

Looks like I'm going to miss the deadline for the portrait, now. Too much finishing work to do: the checkered blouse, the hair detail, the reflections on the cars...

Recently I browsed the photo archives, and that is always a bad thing. I keep finding images that beg to be painted, I get excited about them, and then realize there's so much hanging on the studio walls that needs to be finished before starting something else. But that rush of excitement is just too much to bear sometimes.

Anyway, this one, at least, is coming down the home stretch. There's maybe two more sittings to go on it.

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

I did work in the hair and on the face on this one today, and redrew the coffee container's lid—

 Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

And worked on the face and hands on this one:

Susana, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Back to Work Tomorrow

Dentist, a.m. Side trip to art supply store. Car into shop for maintenance/small repair.

Some Good News

Two of my paintings have been accepted into a national juried show called, "Small Works, Big Impact."

Shadow Study, © 2015 (click on image for larger view)

L. Hones, © 2015 (click on image for larger view)

Some Thoughts on "America"

Recently someone (a non-artist) asked me what I planned to do with the America series. It baffled me: I hadn't been thinking of doing anything with it; I just had the idea one second and knew I had to start painting. Sometimes— a lot of times— creativity seems to be compulsive. In this case. I just wanted to show the diverse nature of my country. Living in places like New York City, south Florida, the Washington DC area, you come into contact with people who don't look like you, don't sound like you when they talk, and who have fresh new ideas about things. And I want to celebrate that fact.

As far as display goes, it's not the sort of work that I could see in either of the galleries I'm in. I plan to do 36 of the little panels, and they're 8" square each, so if they're hung the way I envision things (abutted to each other), it will be a 48" square hanging.

Not sure if I went too dark on the forehead under the hat brim on this one today:

George, © 2017 (America series), work in progress (click on image for larger view)

The Universe Cuts Me A Break

I was prepared to start some big-time weeding in the yard today, but woke up to the sound of thunder. It's too wet outside now to do anything, so painting time has been preserved.

I keep finding areas that need more scrutiny and more detailed painting on this one. As a realist, you have to make decisions about how much you're going to push the details, and how much you're going to simplify. Lately I'm trying to push it to the max, but that means it'll take longer to complete. Nevertheless, here is this morning's work:

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)


Adjusted (yet again) the color of the tablecloth. I like it in a brighter color. I also did some redrawing on a couple of the wine glasses, and straightened out a vertical line that was wonky.

Fitting It In

As I mentioned in the last post, painting time is reduced this week, but I did get a little done yesterday and today:

Dion, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

I deepened the folds in the scarf/flag to make it look more dimensional, and started the fine work on the staff badge.

Also:

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Found a few opportunities to fill in the right side without smearing the wet paint from the last session all over the place.It's starting to look more finished.

More Sunday Painting

Before I dash off to the food store (yet another distraction, but one must eat, it seems) I wanted to post this afternoon's progress on:

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Mostly work on the right side again, but now it's time to let the paint dry.

Frustration

The upcoming week is filled with appointments, an Artomatic volunteer shift, and a show drop-off. Plus, the tyranny of the yard work is about to begin, now that the temperature is warming up and the weeds are beginning to grow. I just want to stay home and paint! I'm trying to get a few things done today but that April 3rd deadline looms large upon the horizon, and now I'm worried I won't be able to make it.

This morning:

George, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

The work I did today on the clothing actually turned out better than I'd thought it would. There were multiple distractions here in the house, and tiny pieces of cat hair are beginning to attach themselves to the wet paint.

Coffee Progress

This one might actually make the deadline! I got a lot done on the right side this morning, now have to let the paint dry.

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Not *Too* Much More...

I keep finding areas that still need work. Today I cleaned up a lot of small features and evened out the tablecloth and cast shadows in the middle part of the painting, but there's a lot of refinement to do on the left side. It does look improved, though. I just wonder when it'll be finished?

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Meanwhile:

Susana, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Daniel, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Tiny Faces

I've gone back to the America series today, since it's wise to let the three bigger paintings dry. And I've been concentrating on the faces, using my visor and some very small brushes.

Daniel, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Cole, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Whole Foods Verticals

I did get back down to the studio to work on those vertical lines. They may have looked like they were finished in previous iterations, but they really looked sloppy, especially on the far right side. But Spring is here, and I'm feeling the pull of the out-of-doors...

Whole Foods, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Highlights and Fingernails

When I get finished with my break, I've got to get back to some vertical lines on Whole Foods, but right now I feel burned out. I worked mostly on the highlight areas on the Dance Floor painting this morning, and also the details on the fingernails in Coffee.

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Light and Dark

I'm trying to sharpen up some of the details in this one, and to heighten the contrast between light and dark areas. I redrew the salt shaker, which I thought was too small, but it still needs adjustment.

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Moving Right Along

This one needs to be finished by April 3rd. Not sure I'm going to make that deadline, but I'm giving it everything I've got now that the Artomatic show is hung.

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

What's left to do? Cars. Fingernails. Checkered pattern on the blouse. The entire right side, really. Hair detail. Camera detail. Fixing mistakes on the windows, upper left. Tree branches to support the leafy boughs.

George and Susana

Using the magnification visor really makes a difference when working on those tiny features.

George, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Susana, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

One More Artomatic 2017 Installation Trip

Well, the work is hung, finally; that concrete back wall really gave us a hard time but my husband figured out a way to hang the very large painting last night. Here's a shot:

Meanwhile, my roommate Dennis finished installing his work on the other two walls, and I like the way he did his labels, so I'm going to re-do mine and put them up today or tomorrow. Here's the rest of my work:

I'm hoping for a sale or two, or at least some good exposure.

Glazing on Dion's Shirt

The shirt's coming along pretty well. I used Asphaltum for the places where I wanted to just darken things a little to create form, and Van Dyke Brown for the deep shadowy areas.

Dion, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Coming Along

There's not too too much left to do on this one. It's maybe three-quarters finished, but what's left is relatively easy and enjoyable.

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Hours of Work

Artomatic is taking a lot of time— we ran into a problem last night when we discovered that the back wall of the space is made of concrete, making the hanging of my largest painting nearly impossible. The little bumpout wall, so perfect for my painting of two teenagers, encloses an air duct and likewise makes hanging hard to do. Hubby went off to the hardware store this afternoon in an attempt to find solutions.  Meanwhile, I'm up against another wall— the April deadlines for two shows. So I spent the afternoon working on the left side, blouse, camera, and table of Coffee With Andi.

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

America: George

George Koch is actually the founder of Artomatic, and I'm pleased that he agreed to be a part of this series.

George, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Prepping Artwork For Artomatic

Picked up one of my paintings from the gallery this morning, and have been making sure the others are exhibit-ready. A couple of them are shown here. I'm still not sure what's going to fit into one of the smaller spaces, so I may need to bring along a Plan B painting. So far, there are going to be 3 fairly large pieces, one VERY large piece, and a small one.

That Left Side, and America

We're expecting either a major snowstorm complete with power outages, or just a little sleet. I worked on Coffee With Andi this morning, and then decided to take the rest of the day off to do storm prep and to sort out my business cards for Artomatic. So here's the painting— a lot of the street view on the left side will be covered by tree foliage, but that doesn't mean I can ignore the perspective on the windows.

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

And I put the current America series panels together, just to have a record of where things stand. I don't think it has any real sales potential, and it sure as heck will be  a pain to install— especially if I want to abut those little panels together— but I just feel compelled to do it.

 America, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Oh, and the seven new panels that I ordered have arrived, so I need to find more models.

Squaring Up

I knew those vertical lines were wonky. The T-square is a big help in straightening them out. Worked on this one upstairs today; the shift to Daylight Savings Time (which I abhor) at least gave the advantage of strong light later in the day.

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Back to Work

After spending two days straight at Artomatic, I'm ready to get back to painting. Here's this morning's work:

Daniel, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

George, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Artomatic 2017: Wall Prep #2

The room we're in is up on the 9th floor, and it looks like we have some pretty good neighbors. I think Floor 9 will be the hot visit this year.

A sophisticated shade of grey. Good as a background for the paintings.

My friend Dennis and me, after about three hours of work. I had to go to the supermarket after this, and I have paint all over my clothes and am wearing my husband's socks because it's FREEZING COLD OUT and they are snuggly and cozy; but I look like a bag lady.

Artomatic 2017: Wall Prep #1

Yesterday I put in the first of my three 5-hour volunteer shifts, which involved greeting Artomatic artists as they came in to the elevator bank from the garage, identifying them, and sending them on to their exhibit space with important information (Do not use the stairs today as the door will lock behind you and you'll be stuck in the stairwell). Dennis, my friend and exhibit space mate, came in later in the day and did some spackling. I've bought the paint, so that will be the next step as we transform a bland former office into a place of beauty and delight.

Space #9616-9617

Waiting For Paint To Dry

While I'm waiting for the three paintings that I'm concentrating on to dry, I've gone a little further on these:

Daniel, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Cole, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

I picked up some light neutral paint sample chips at the hardware store yesterday while buying supplies for Artomatic. Will try them out as background colors and then see if I can mix a close match to the one that looks best.

America: Susana

I keep thinking I've got the shading on the face done, and then I look at it in a photo and it looks like it still needs work.

Susana, © 2017, (America series) work in progress

Deadlines

I've always hated deadlines, but they are a prime source of motivation. There are two competitions coming up,one regional, one national, and they both have due dates in April, so I'm prioritizing work on three paintings. Here's what I did this morning on two of them:

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Looking at this one from across the room, I feel confident that its overall color palette is unified. As soon as the parts in the middle dry (I worked on the hair, the ring, and started the checks on the blouse collar) I'll put some effort into the storefronts. And I suspect the verticals are leaning in one direction or another.

Everyone Is On The Dance Floor, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

I found some photos of votive candles that are the perfect reference for the three candles on the left that are completely blown out in my original reference photo. Also worked on the big flower containers.

Might get to the America series this afternoon. Sunny and warm here, and there's some yard work that needs attention.

Baby Steps

Recently a friend asked me when Whole Foods would be finished, and I said, "about two months." That's probably correct. I know it looks like it's done, but there's still a lot of work to do on the lower panels and the frames around the windows. And some cleanup of sloppy strokes.

Whole Foods, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Afternoon Work

Coffee With Andi, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Susana

Many years ago, I did a series of portraits somewhat inspired by the color of the Andy Warhol prints. They were 12" x 14", if I remember correctly, and I abutted them all together and built a supporting framework on the back.

Then I did a series I called "Head Shots" in the 90s, mostly of people I worked with. I was trying to learn something about skin tones, as I recall, and at one point I had them all arranged in a grid on the wall of my studio. The series was well received at my workplace and it was fun to work on.

So this current series seems related to those earlier ones. Just thinking about it all.

This afternoon:

Susana, © 2017, (America series) work in progress

Back to Whole Foods

Two hours of work this morning, mostly on the leftmost panel, both above and below the window.

Whole Foods, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

America

I've been able to make a decent start on this series. I think I'll paint the figures first, and then when they're all done I'll mix up a big batch of the background color, then paint them all at the same time so they're uniform. But here's what's in progress right now:

Dion, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view); more work on the shirt and arms. 

Cole, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Susana, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view; haven't worked on this one since Saturday, just adding it for good measure

Dan, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view)

George, © 2017, (America series) work in progress (click on image for larger view; just started.