More afternoon work:
Lakin, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
This is a blog about painting: specifically, representational fine art, generally, using oil paint. I think a lot about what I'm doing, and those thoughts about subject matter, technique, influences, frustrations and delights all show up here. It's all about the journey.
Here's Elton! Of course, I still need to paint in the background, but that will have to wait until this dries.
Elton (click on image for larger view)
There are some fuzzy vertical lines that I need to clean up, and I'm not sure about the area under the table. Also I want to put in some halos around the white spotlights when they dry. Otherwise; nearly done.
Plat Du Jour, work in progress (click on image for larger view)I wanted to emphasize the light from the store window at the feet of the dancers. Not much left to do on this one!
Dance All Night, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I feel like I'm working on this one every day now...
The Garden Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I like this one, with the little daughter peeking out from behind her dad.
Sai and Friend, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
You can get into the zone, and do some really good work; then there's that benign little tap on your leg. Benign, unless you ignore it. Then there may be a more, shall we say, assertive claim on your time? And so you end up screwing up the face you're working on, working quickly to avoid pain. This was so much better a few minutes ago, before I had to supply The Treats.
Emily, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Time is of the essence, and I have to pay attention to the America series folks too.
Geneva and Athena are finished! I just have to paint their white backgrounds.
Geneva (click on image for larger view)
Athena (click on image for larger view)
Lakin, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Lakin will be easy to complete; the ones I'm worried about are Sai, Elton, and Emily. All of those have a lot of small details.
There are many loose ends left on this, so I'll have to spend the rest of the week cleaning them up. And there is the problem of the floor.
The Garden Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Had a studio visit from one of my main patrons today, and it was most welcome as I've been in a depressive funk lately and she loved everything she saw. So after she left, and a a quick, refreshing nap, I got back to work and had a productive afternoon.
Getting closer to the finish line:
Straight Ahead, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Both of these are 16" square, and I made some good progress on them today.
Plat Du Jour, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Dance All Night, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Late next week, I'm going to give all of these paintings one final pass to clean up any areas that need polishing.
Another 4th Street (click on image for larger view)
What's left:
The Garden Room
Straight Ahead
Plat Du Jour
Dance All Night
It's time to get that tile floor under control. I re-measured the ones in the foreground and clearly there's much more to do. But that's it for now, it's already early evening.
The Garden Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)I keep finding areas that need more work! Will there be enough time?
Dance All Night, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
...are better than one. Morning work; just blocking in color.
Emily, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Lakin, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I figure one or two more passes will do it; the details that I need to attend to are smaller and fewer between.
Another 4th Street, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Sometimes people wonder why it takes so long to finish a painting. A lot of time goes into putting down a stroke, or working into an area, only to find that the next day it looks like that was a mistake. Then you have to ruminate over how to correct it, let the paint dry, and then go back in and try again.
Such is the case with this one. Several areas that I thought I'd made progress on today now look all wrong to me.
Dance All Night, work in progress (click on image for larger view)Moving forward; worked on the little girl, mostly.
The hanging lights now have a visible means of support!
Also:
Athena, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Four more pieces worked on today:
Straight Ahead, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Some progress on this, but I keep finding areas that aren't working:
Plat Du Jour, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Elton, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Geneva, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Yet another for the America series. This should be relatively easy to finish.
Lakin, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I'm getting very close to finishing this one, and that will be time to celebrate.
Another 4th Street, work in progress (click on image for larger view)I spent all of yesterday afternoon fulfilling my volunteer obligation at Artomatic, and exhausted myself on floor duty. But I got to see the show! My last two stints have been relegated to sitting at a table in the lobby, and while it was an excellent way to gather material for the America series, I didn't get to see the art much.
I am convinced that Artomatic is a great gift not only to DC and its environs, but also to the art world at large.
Anyway: Emily is terrific but I shall have to work my way slowly around and through the many buttons and patches she wears. And time is limited! I want her to be in the May show at Calloway.
Worked multiple areas; laid down a quick wash over the anemic looking sidewalk and street surface; not sure if it helped.
Another 4th Street, work in progress (click on image for larger view)One more round with the sandpaper, and then another attempt to get the faces right. So far, so good, though still more to do.
Plat Du Jour, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
It's Friday already, and by my count I've got a mere 13 days left to finish 5 paintings. And it's not going well. I have to budget in time for rectifying mistakes; drying time; changes in color or drawing. I am freaking out.
Today I tried to tie up some loose ends on the left side of this painting, and make some decisions about the floor colors.
The Garden Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view) Thursday morning painting:
Another 4th Street, work in progress (click on image for larger view)