Though it was a relatively slow day in the studio, I managed to work on four different pieces.
Worked on the blackboard and some of the light fixtures.
Fixing the wobbly lines on the door and its trim.
Just more fill-ins and outlines on the mural itself.
Starbucks (Homage to Hopper), work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
I can't believe how long this little painting is taking, nor how crude the brushwork looks when I see a larger photo of it. I might never finish it!
Kept to a palette of greens today. Filling in the shapes with color.
There's very little left to do on this one, and I think I got a decent photo of it. I worked really hard on the subtleties of the faces today. There's just a little detail left on the handbag and the door trim on the right.
I've done my best with this one despite the scarce information about skin tones in the reference photo. It's better, but I'm still not happy with it. At least Sylvester looks more like a cat and less like a sack of potatoes.
Over the weekend, I posed for the figure, hoping to change the pose from nail-biting terror to thoughtful pondering. All of this, of course, depends on the way the hand is drawn. So far, so good, but the paint needs to dry down a bit before I can truly draw the detail.
I finished "Michael Mina!" Or, at least, I think so, barring a little touch-up here and there. Time to move on. I am in one of those delirious moods where I can envision starting a dozen new pieces.
The last session for this one was June 14th, so it's been a while. I concentrated on the table today but there's plenty more to do. I'm not sure about the way the raindrops leave a trail on the window; it might be too much.
Lately I've been thinking that I've spent my life trying to improve my work technically, and I've taken it about as far as I can. There's still room for improvement, but it's time to go in a new direction. I don't want to abandon Realism, so it makes sense to take a 90 degree turn instead into Surrealism.
Here is the start of my first foray into that realm, partly based on a recent dream.
I Dreamed That I Could Fly, work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
I had this one on the back burner, but since a recent visitor expressed admiration for it I'm rethinking its value. It's funny how that works for us artists.
Anyway, I did a lot of painting on it this afternoon though it's mostly in small places that add to the narrative in a subtle way. I'm having trouble with the skin tones on the woman on the right. In the reference photo she's wearing flashy sunglasses, but I thought they'd be distracting. Now I might change my mind.
'S Nice, work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
I would love to have a pergola, but this is probably as close to it as I'm going to get. Painting those dark lines this morning is easily the most boring painting I've had to do in the last few weeks.
Eric F., who has been looking truly awful, is finally coming along and looking more like his handsome self. I've had a lot of trouble creating the flesh tone changes on the face, but it's beginning to work. I have to find a really small brush for the eye detail.
In an attempt to make sense out of the dark area on the right wall, I've introduced some leafy shadows. I still have to make hard breaks between light and dark versions of colors in the mural, but this helps.
Working on this is fun; next session I'm going to concentrate on making the dark shadowy area on the right more distinct.
Late in the day, I worked on the glassware and the faces:
Moving on, I added some atmosphere via way of glazes to this one:
Almost done.
I spent a happy hour this morning just working on the blue dress, with all of its folds and drapery.
Inching along. Working the right side, since the left side is still wet from the last session.
Bowery Graffiti Wall (Revok + Pose), work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
This is a big painting; 38"w x 54"h, so I have to mix up A LOT of color when I work on the shirt. My arm is tired from all of the extended strokes, too. But I'm plugging along, and having fun playing with the edges of things.
Distractions have made it hard to concentrate on what I need to do to prepare for four upcoming shows but I have managed to move a few pieces forward.
Worked on some of the black outlines:
Bowery Graffiti Wall (Revok + Pose), work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
Getting closer to the finish on this one:
Darkened the screened area atop the pergola:
Circumstances dictated a trip downtown today, so I was only able to do three chopped-up sessions of work on this one. I'm modifying the face and hand; the girl looked sort of terrified, not thoughtful, so her gesture will have to change. Added a slouchy purse on the floor. But it's 3 weeks 'til the art tour, so I think I need to spend the rest of the day making decisions for that.
I was tempted to try the Warm White on the stucco wall, visible at the top of the painting— but i really needed a dry brush layer of Radiant White to separate it (visually) from the sidewalk and street. And it might need another layer.
Also cleaned up numerous areas that were spotty looking after the recent sanding.
Bowery Graffiti Wall (Revok + Pose), work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
Here's a blast from the past. There's been some interest in this series lately, so it might not be a bad idea to finish it. This is the largest panel of the bunch. I'm bothered by the overall chalky look, so will be doing a lot more gradations in the future.
A friend and I are trying out a new pigment; Gamblin's Warm White. We're both liking the way it plays well with other colors. I used it in a number of places on this one today, and especially on the shirt.
Not a lot left to do; mostly the right side corner and maybe a little more shadow on the face of the female figure.
That's what I'm going to call it from now on; when the tedium gets to me.
Anyway, made some progress on the glassware while listening to "Only Murders In The Building."
The color of the new light violet I put in on the shirt needs to have more of an identity. It's kinda washed out right now and needs more vibrancy. I want a lot of contrast on the shirt, ultimately.
Note the reference photo in the upper right hand corner.
I stuck with this one after hours tonight and am happy to report that it is finished! Now time to find it a new home.
Back again after not posting for a while— but I have been working! I'll just skip over the previous iterations of paintings and start fresh with today's work. I've been prepping for three or four new shows!
Bowery Graffiti Wall (Revok + Pose), work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
Dolcezza, work in progress, (click on image for larger view)
