I'm trying to knock back those dark edge lines on the floor. Some success today with that and the guard's face.
A Quiet Moment At The Met, 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.
I'm trying to knock back those dark edge lines on the floor. Some success today with that and the guard's face.
A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
This took a long time to smooth out today, but I think it still needs to go lighter overall. At least the spotlighting is working well.
He Was Curiously Drawn To It, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Working from left to right, the next figure is wearing a black sweater, but it needed some definition. And then the woman with the brown hair needed the same, using a similar color palette. So I worked on them both. Now on to something else.
Sometimes...There's just something about a small area of a scene that excites me enough to work on a painting even though I don't feel like it. Such is the case with the blue shirt on the man on the left. I love the way the overhead light hits the shoulders; I love the deep blue-violet shadow areas. So I picked up on this one today even though it should have been off the easel and drying in a corner of the studio.
Standing Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
It's Back To Work Monday, and I managed to talk myself into doing some real work, instead of lying around feeling unmotivated.
Messages, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
Standing Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I spent a little time yesterday on the frame of the large war painting. Next will be those pesky floor boards, and some subtle gradations on the face.
My art supply order just showed up, a day early!
As the seasons turn, I find myself having to spend time on indoor and outdoor tasks. Inevitably, it cuts into painting time. But I did manage to work on a few small areas here and there over the last few days.
Messages, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I used a lot of glazing on the floor to try to beat back the attention-getting parquet strips. Unfortunately, I've run out of glazing medium and now must wait until Wednesday for my art supplies order to arrive. Very happy with the way this looks, though.
The Visit, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I had serious doubts about how to pull off the tiny floral pattern on the mom figure, but, amazingly, IT WORKS.
Annuals (click on image for larger view)
I'm trying to concentrate on these two paintings lately, but when I work on the larger areas, like floors and walls, it takes a while for them to dry enough that I can continue.
Standing Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
I have to ruminate over the lower wall color on the above painting; it seemed too grey to me but maybe it's okay. It's made of the same pigments as in the wall color above it, just in different percentages, and perhaps it should lean a bit more towards the ochres in the floor boards. We'll see.
While I can't wait to repaint the walls of the one below, I need to work a bit longer on that crazy floor. In the photo reference, the floor strips are not so well defined, and I think that's a good thing. It's not too cluttered that way.
Messages, work in progress (click on image for larger view)