Subtle Changes In Color

Because this scene takes place at the moment the street light (outside the left frame of the image) is red, there's a fair amount of pinkish light on the white surfaces of the building. There's also a lot of ambient gold-green, and again, the white features of the building—places like the door and the upright frames that support the big glass windows— pick it up. If you look at the tops of the window supports, the colors are different than at the bottoms. And there's more of the pinkish light on the left side, closer to the traffic light.

Evening Star Café, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Closer and Closer

I'm starting to run out of places that need work on this little painting. It will be nice to actually finish something.

Saturday Night At Le Diplomate, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Two More

Here's the ocean painting that the blogger software wouldn't let me upload an hour ago, and with it, the one I just stopped working on.

Atlantic Ocean Series #11, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

Atlantic Ocean Series #12, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

A Little More Productivity

Today I felt more like working. This little painting beckoned me to add some sky holes— places where the sunlight breaks through the tree branches onto the wall— and it seemed like a fun thing to do.

Old Town, Late Afternoon, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Last night I went back to The Chair, intent on making those faces work. So here's the update:

The Chair, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I think the girl with the drinking glass is somewhat successful.

Then I moved on to this, mindful of the self-imposed deadline of November 1st:

A Quiet Evening In Cambridge 2, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Note that the lamps on the right wall are now more visible.

I did finally get back to Caitlyn, and picked out a lot of details on the patterns in her dress:

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

And also added some details and an overwash of blue in some areas on Atlantic Ocean #11 but I can't get the image to load! Maybe later.

Slowing Down

Worked on only two paintings today.

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

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

I've been on the web looking at how other artists handle figurative work trying to pick up some tips. It feels like a good time to take a bit of a break and recalibrate.

A Slow Start

I never did get to Caitlyn before Saturday; I think maybe I need some down time. But this morning I got a lot done on:

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

The Chocolate Shop

I just spent the last hour and a half working in multiple areas on this one; all that's left to finish the week is Caitlyn, but I'm going to take a break now.

I think the floor looks better. But those chandeliers are a real problem.

A Quiet Evening In Cambridge 2, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Soft Brush Work, and Complementary Colors

The shadows on the walls of the art gallery in this picture are very soft-edged, requiring an equally soft touch. I found a couple of puffy brushes and used them for blending some of the darker areas in to lighter ones this afternoon. Next time I ought to work on the ladder.

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

I got completely involved with a small area on the right side of this one: the counterpoint between the blue-green t-shirt and the red-orange skin tones on the girl second from the right. Of course those two colors are directly opposite on the color wheel, which makes them complementary, and I spent a long time trying to get things right.

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

Am still not sure what color to make the shirt of the redhead, third from left. But there's time--- this one needs a couple of months' more work. Tomorrow: A Quiet Evening In Cambridge. That will finish up the week nicely.

Close, But No Cigar

I put on my magnifying visor yesterday to work on the facial detail on Mehri; paid extra attention to color and the shape of the facial planes. It looks much more like her now, but I still have to work on the smile.

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

Also put in some time late afternoon on this ocean painting:

Atlantic Ocean Series #12, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

Today I'm going to concentrate on the commissioned piece and The Chair, I think.

Water Detail

You don't know how much I want to be finished with this piece and its companion. It even looks like it's done, but there are so many tiny details that need to be attended to in the lower half of the painting.

Atlantic Ocean Series #11, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

Forging Ahead

Every day, more work. Here's what I did today:

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

Mostly I worked on the flesh tones of the woman on the ladder. Surprisingly, Burnt Sienna and white— in this case, Zinc White— create the exact color of the skin in the photo.

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

I'm trying to vary the skin tones, which are very flat in the original reference photo. The photo was taken outside, under a blue sky, so I think I want to work a little of that blue into the decolletage area.

Counterpoint, © 2017, work in progress
I significantly darkened the seating area on the left side, and sharpened the cast shadows of the wall art.

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

More work on those tiny faces, and some of the background.

More Restaurant Work

Instead of being virtuous and going to the gym as I'd planned, I took a one hour nap. What the heck. It was an exhausting weekend.

So once I got back to painting, Evening Star was calling my name. Working on it I noticed a reflected "Don't Walk" hand sign (not painted in yet) in the reference photo, and that, for some reason, reminded me of the first time I tried to paint a storefront in art school. The assignment was to set up in front of a shop window and paint everything on the window itself (signage, for example), everything visible behind the window, and everything reflected on the window.

I never finished the assignment, but in reminiscing I now think that it was not so much because I was a timid 17-year old but also because I spent a lot of time trying to capture all of the details correctly.

Anyway: I put in a lot more time this afternoon on several different areas, most noticeably the shelving on the yellow side wall.

Evening Star Café, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Evening Star And Small Matters

Getting the week started this morning wasn't easy. The weekend was exhausting, and as soon as I write this I'm going to take a nap. I mostly attended to small details in each of the paintings below:

Evening Star Café, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Added the shelves on the right and got some woodwork aligned; drew the left pendant lamp in to be the same size as the one on the right.

Saturday Night At Le Diplomate, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Tightened up some of the background details; worked on the two white trash containers in the foreground at the bottom.

Old Town, Late Afternoon, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Added a little detail to the windows, the parking meters, and the bicycle.

Tiny Faces 2

When I made the decision to create a series of people standing on street corners, I thought a height of 9" would be adequate. Now I'm not so sure. I seem to be relying on line rather than form for the faces, because the space to work in is so small. But I'll keep plugging away at it.

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

So... I've met my quota for the week. Time to start over.

12 of 13

Today I went to a long-planned birthday lunch for a good friend. It was nice to be able to unwind and laugh a little! Came home and worked on two of the America series, Caitlyn and Anne. That brings the total of the week to 12 of the 13 paintings I'm currently working on. There should be time enough tomorrow to get to the last one, Stockton Street, and I'd like to put in some more detail on Caitlyn's dress tonight. But here's today's work:

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

 

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

Mistakes Were Made

Recently, I realized there was a problem with the baseline of the photograph the woman is hanging on the wall. I knew eventually I'd have to deal with it, and today was the day. I've re-measured and sketched in a few new lines.

I also had to take care of areas that I'd had to sand back for one reason or another, and deal with a spot that was taking too long to dry. But the painting looks better, and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

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

The Holidays Will Be Here Before You Know It

...and I need to finish this painting so it can go to the gallery by November 1st! I made some decent progress on it all day today, analyzing areas that are a mystery to me and trying to paint vague objects and wall space in the background so it looks like a harmonious whole. I think I mentioned in an earlier post how blurry the reference image is, and how I took out a very distracting vertical window frame line in the center of the photo. I've had to imagine a lot of what must have been behind it. Anyway, here's today's work:

A Quiet Evening In Cambridge 2, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Frustration

Not a good day. Still: some work to share.

Evening Star Café, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

That back wall looks better now that it's painted in. Once the wall on the right hand side under the shelves is done, the painting will really start to pull together. The wall under the shelves is a lemony yellow with olive green shading; the yellow is from whatever kind of lighting they're using there and it really adds character to the interior.

Atlantic Ocean Series #11, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

I spent most of the morning session on the second dark band from the top, where the water breaks. I can't seem to get it right.

Atlantic Ocean Series #12, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

Same problem here: the breaking waves do have that pointed, triangular shape, but they don't look real yet. I'm trying to pay attention to the color and form and value, but so far— a disappointment.

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

Moved on to this one next, since I was working with a blue palette on the ocean pieces. I took out the distracting and poorly drawn ribbing on the sweater.

Tomorrow is another day.

Some Small Movement In The Right Direction

I worked on the two faces on the right side of this painting today. The young lady rightmost is obviously pouting; I wonder about the dynamics of this group. Anyway, it looks much better than it did the last time I worked on it.

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

And I changed the color of the coral t-shirt:

Counterpoint, © 2017, work in progress

The chairs still need to be finessed, and there are a few other place that need attention. But— soon!

The Need To Maintain A Schedule

If you are a woman artist reading this blog, you know how difficult it is to carve out enough time from your regular activities in order to paint. We have so many responsibilities. Right now I am challenged by events beyond my control, but I've still managed to adhere to my usual schedule. Here's this morning's work:

Old Town, Late Afternoon, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

I added the green tinge to the tree shadow that I'd observed in a previous entry, but am not sure it looks right. Have been working on the sidewalk area, which has a bit of blue in it from the sky.

 Saturday Night At Le Diplomate, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

This one is so frigging tedious. I can't wait for it to be finished. The details on those tiny bottles are driving me to drink!

Problem Solving

I hate it when things go wrong. Today I took a look at Equilibrium and realized there were bits of paint visible in what should otherwise have been a flat plane. The only way to get them off was to sand them, and that took off a lot of paint around them. I'm going to need to do two, maybe three more coats on the scratched places.

Other than that, the painting went relatively well today, and I got a lot done.

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

The Last Of The Week

I kept my eye on the news while I worked today, then this afternoon got a call from a family member from Florida who was fleeing Hurricane Irma. We picked her up at the airport and brought her home. The storm is a gigantic, monstrous thing, but at least we're in no danger from it here.

I did get to finish my work on the last of the week's thirteen paintings. Looks like the weekend will be pretty busy, but here's the last of the work for now:

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

Water Works and Counterpoint

It's been a productive day, even though I just inch along on these paintings. I've been lightening up the skin tones on the right sides of the customers in the cafe, since there's a lot of light coming through a window there. The two figures on the right still need to be finished, and I want to clean up the edges of the paintings on the wall and the chairs.

Counterpoint, © 2017, work in progress

Here are the two ocean paintings:

Atlantic Ocean Series #11, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

Atlantic Ocean Series #12, Dawn Phase, © 2017, work in progress

A Sunny Thursday Morning

The oppressive overcast greyness we had yesterday put me off working, though I did manage to get some work done on several pieces. Today is gorgeous. I did some painting already on two of the America series, and will get to a couple of other works soon.

I seem to have settled into a schedule of sorts: I am actively working on 13 paintings, and usually get something done on each of them once a week. The America series needs to be expanded, and I have a couple of photos of models that are ready to be started, but I don't want to do that until I get another painting or two finished.

Here's today's work:

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

I'm much happier with the resemblance now, even though it's still not quite right.

 

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

Evening Star and Others

Worked on the back walls; love the warm feeling of this place. Also put in a little detail on the patrons in the left window, though one of them is mostly obscured by the poster in the window.

Evening Star Café, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Saturday Night At Le Diplomate, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Today I concentrated on those tiny bottles on the back wall, working down from the top shelves. There's still plenty more to do.

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

Still struggling with the skin tones. The complexions are all different, so I can't just use the same palette.

And finally:

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

Not sure about the ribbing on the sweater; will put the painting aside for a few days and then look at it with fresh eyes. If it's not working I'll try something different. And the smile is still not right.

Foliage

Foliage is not my forte, but the brush I was using made perfectly shaped leaves in places where I needed them to be visible. I've been noticing that the shadow of the tree on the wall needs to have a little bit of green mixed into the blue-grey, so that'll be the next step.

Old Town, Late Afternoon, © 2017, work in progress (click on image for larger view)