Reverting To Form

I had always seen this painting in my mind's eye as an impressionist work, but it's taking a turn towards my hard-edged realist style. And I'm just not sure about that pink wall.

Light And Shadow, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Another Sunset Palette

Since some of the hues on my palette for the auberge painting are the same ones I use for this, I decided to add more background color. Some time ago I had started to paint the tree but then realized the sunset wasn't bright enough; I have the basic structure of the tree in place, so I can always go back to it. But I think this will take care of the sky, now.

A Sunset For Karla, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

A Step Closer

Once the paint dries, I'm going to put in the pretty scalloping around the window up at the top. And I'm going to replace the woodpile with the iconic large, playful rabbit statue that really does belong on the porch. I'm into finishing paintings this week and next, hopefully; there are a couple more that only need an hour or two of of work.

L'Auberge Provençale, February, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

One More For Today

Specials Of The Day, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Finished!

Coming Of Age In The year 2018, © 2020 (click on image for larger view)

Dish Cleaning

Not dish washing; just cleaning up the edges.

Banana Cream Pie, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Finished!

After making a few well-considered changes (reworking the clouds, taking out a distracting tree element in the center, gradating the sky color) I'm changing the name of this one and calling it DONE.

Passing Clouds, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

City Life, As We Knew It

Oh, I'm not pessimistic; things will eventually get back to normal. But today I felt like working on this one, from an old series that I've temporarily abandoned in favor of the dessert series. I'm trying to work from left to right to avoid smearing.

4th Street, San Francisco, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

A Whole Lot Of Grout Lines

I think I covered the entire back wall with grout lines today; you can see that the ones behind the figure are relatively straight; those are the ones I worked on in the morning. After doing some weeding, planting, transplanting and watering, it was hard to regain fine motor control, so the lines look wobbly near the top and on the right side. I don't think this one will be ready in time for Artomatic 2.0.

Waiting At Le Diplomate, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

While everything else in the universe seems to be going to hell, there is one bright spot: the mosquitoes, who normally make their appearance around May 12th, have yet to show up. Hence the amount of time I'm spending in the garden. I'm trying to get everything done before I have to start swatting the little beasts on my skin every other minute.

Eventually I Will Get The Face Right

How many times have I repainted the woman's face? 12? 15? Yesterday I tried something new; I brought the reference photo into Photoshop's Images>Adjustments>Posterize feature and set it to something like 17 levels. That broke the face into distinct planes, and I was able to have a good look at the color of each one. They ranged from cream to pink to greyish rose, so I mixed the paint and stroked it on in distinct color bands. Later on I tried blending the bands, but it didn't look right, so I started over and will wait for it all to dry before attempting to smooth out the edges.

Tuesday, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

The woman's expression is hard to capture without making her look too unhappy. Her mouth does tend down a bit at the corners, but the way the light models her face it looks too harsh. I will try again.

The Struggle Continues

I added some magenta, orange, and purple to the palette today and then got sloppy with my brush handling. But I like the way the pink overlay looks on the blue shadows.

Light And Shadow, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

As Panic Begins To Set In

With the news that Artomatic will be taking place this year, I have had to rapidly switch gears. I've taken a quick look around the studio to see what's available; since this will be a Virtual Artomatic (instead of the usual 9 office building floors of the most eye-popping art you've ever seen) there's probably a lot more flexibility in terms of "wall space." Should I concentrate on the genre pieces? Or mix things up with some landscapes and still lifes? I definitely don't want to show the desserts; those really need to be viewed on a wall, somewhere in the real world.

Anyway— worked on the ceiling today, and a little on the woman's face. Best to move ahead quickly with the latest genre paintings.

Specials Of The Day, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

I Think I Should Leave The Clouds Alone

Finished? Not finished? I might even out the color of the sky, but otherwise this is done. Will stare at it from across the room for a few days and then decide. I have to finish something some time soon.

Sky Over The Sudbury River, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Two Late Day Paintings

The news that came in around 5:00 via email that there will be a virtual Artomatic this year knocked me out of my chair and sent me to the easel. The two paintings below will not be part of the show, but the next few weeks will be full of work.

Apologies if the images are dark; it's now almost 10:00 p.m. and I had to use room light.

Hot Fudge Sundae I, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

Sara Driving Across The Desert, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

Back To The Swimming Pool

If you're a regular viewer of this blog, you're probably as tired of seeing this image as I am. I found an alternate reference photo today, and it makes clear the fact that the boy is wearing blue swimming trunks; also, his right leg is more obvious underwater. So I readjusted some areas to try to capture those, and also worked on the back and right arm. It'll be done when it's done, I guess.

Coming Of Age In The year 2018, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Crumbs And Crevices

I placed a lot of tiny bits of crumbs on the high spots of the whipped cream, and deepened some of the shadows. The sticky oozy sauce isn't quite right where it sits on the plate, so I need to get back to that and make it look more rounded, darker where it's thicker, and lighter around the edges. Also worked the plate and its shadow. And the banana slice.

Banana Cream Pie, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Pain Is Not Conducive To Painting

My knee is killing me, but there's no way on this planet that I'm going to the doctor. Took a few days off from work because I just wasn't able to concentrate, but today I'm back at the easel. I'd like to finish this painting later this week or early next week, and also the Banana Cream Pie piece. And the swimmer. Those are the ones closest to being done.

Sky Over The Sudbury River, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Laid Up

In an effort to shed a few pounds, I upped my mileage on the exercycle a few days ago, and now have a knee injury that's so painful I can barely walk. This is what they mean when they say, "No good deed goes unpunished." Hopefully will get back to work tomorrow, on some small pieces; trying to stay off my feet today. Bonjour! Buona sera! Buenos Tardes!

In Which I Learn Something

I don't know if this is true for impressionism in general or just for me doing this particular painting, but it appears that a slow and deliberate placement of brushstrokes is better than haphazardly smooshing the paint around in unstructured daubs. And I'm trying to remind myself that the closer a shadow is to its source, the harder the edge will be, while the shadows further from the source will be more diffuse.

Light And Shadow, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

One Down, Twelve (or Fourteen) To Go

This is finally finished! It's the first of 13 that I have in progress, but I have plans and panels for two more, which will bring the series when completed to 15. So happy to be able to post a finished piece.

Mocha Treat, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020 (click on image for larger view)

Another Cold Monday

Worked on the background mountains and sky, the desert, and some of the dashboard.

Sara Driving Across The Desert, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

And some details on the crust, the whipped cream, and especially the gooey caramel syrup:

 

Banana Cream Pie, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Close, But No Cigar

I think I've finished obsessing over the water part of this painting; all that's left is the boy's back. And the reference photo I'm working from is really lousy in terms of the visual information I need— his back is overexposed and no amount of dithering in Photoshop is going to help. Anyway; here's today's iteration:

Coming Of Age In The year 2018, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

Next time you see this one, it'll be done.

 

 

Baby Steps On The Rings

In order to make the green trim rings precise, I'm having to go over them with a very small brush, a stroke at a time, and then go back with a clean brush to even out the edges. Unfortunately I can't remember what color combination I used previously to make the green, and today's mix is a little too transparent. The painting has to dry for a while, but after the rings have been adjusted I'll work on the edges of the plate.

Banana Cream Pie, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Walls And Ceiling

As dark as the walls are now that they've just been freshly painted, they will dry lighter. I like the dark color, and look forward to adding a coat of varnish once it's finished; that'll bring out the detail and contrast.

Specials Of The Day, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Last Minute Painting

Just before dinnertime I had an urge to work on the faces of the two women in this painting. It's not much, but at least it's progress.

Specials Of The Day, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Wet Paint

Back to work! The sun is shining, and I'm more motivated than I've been for a while.

Nearly finished on this one; the spoon— again!— needs more work but only on the handle, and then this will be DONE. I'm not allowing myself to start anything new until I get at least one painting finished.

Mocha Treat, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

Moving along, I felt like working on the skin tones today:

 

The Chair, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

A Not Very Productive Day

The weather is having an effect on my mood. Tomorrow, we've been promised sunlight and a high temp of 68. I look forward to it.

Sky Over The Sudbury River, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Do-Over

Yesterday was such a washout that I wanted to get into the studio early today and get a good start on painting. The last two of the dessert paintings that I've earmarked as priorities are below; the entire series is coming along very slowly but it is moving forward.

I've decided against entering any shows that require me to physically deliver paintings this year. Unless, of course, things change considerably regarding the health issue. So 2020 will be a year of working but not necessarily showing.

Pot De Crème, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

Crème Brûlée, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

A Very Late Start

It's a gusty sort of day, and the power went out here around 6:30 a.m. Apparently a tree fell on a power line; I instantly started to worry about the food in the refrigerator/freezer. But 5 hours later all was back to normal. It took me a while to get myself reoriented, and there have been some interruptions, but I did put in over an hour on this. Am still trying to feel my way around and figure out how to deal with the shadows and their edges.

Light And Shadow, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Seven Of Nine

There's been a break in the weather and it actually feels like spring. I pulled some weeds and we sat outside with some Dalgona coffee and watched some of the neighbors out for a stroll in the sun. The cat's tuckered out right now and asleep near my feet. But I did get some painting done! This is the seventh of the nine dessert pieces that I've been trying to concentrate on lately:

Strawberry Shortcake, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

And since I had some reds and yellows available on the palette, I worked mostly on the flesh tones here:

Sara Driving Across The Desert, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Ticked Off

Yesterday it rained all day. I was in a foul mood and didn't want to paint. Today we woke up to more rain, then miraculously the skies cleared and we had a glimmer of hope; but then dark clouds moved in again and the temperature dropped. So I am not in the best of moods today, either.

The making of protective masks is going slowly. I located all of the fabric from bygone projects and have been ironing and trimming the pieces. Many of them are very girly— calicos, florals, pink rosy flocked wreath designs— so the manly delivery guys may not want to wear them. But I'm sure they'll be useful for many folks.

I did get some work done today: made significant progress on the meringue glaze and the red rings—

Île Flottante, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

And added some more dark veining on the upper right of this one—

Two Spoons, Guilty Pleasures Series, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Worked on the tree line and tried to darken the pale flowers in the foreground, but unsuccessfully:

Sky Over The Sudbury River, © 2020, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

And completely obliterated what slight semblance this painting had to Tonalism. I'm going to have to find a new name for it.