Winston Study

Another portrait study from my portrait focus weekend - this time Winston is on my easel!  It is super fun to explore the lines and planes of this iconic face!  Playing with color here, exploring non traditional hues, I have begun by laying down my darkest darks and lightest planes.  I then bring them together with mid tones, bringing in higher color.  My portrait adventure has only just begun and I can't wait to see what unfolds next!  Painting number 2886 in 2886 days. 

Looking Back

I normally know which medium I would use for a portrait at first sight of the photo.  Not so with this one.  Ink? Graphite?  Oil?  I wanted to use all three!  Even half way through this painting, I was second guessing my choice.  Once I started narrowing down my process, I got into that zone where the brush strokes were exciting, I could feel them leading me where I wanted to go. I will look again with fresh eyes tomorrow, but I think I may be finished!  Painting number 2365 in 2365 days.

Going Home

Going Home
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

I had limited time to work on this painting, in between the busy appointments of my day.  I worked quickly to block in the color, and I put a little more finish into those masses - as I was thinking ahead without realizing it.  I must say, these figures grow more natural by the day!  This is another painting from my reenactment photo treasure trove, and I am having so much fun painting these!  As I look at this now, I may have put a little more polish on the horse than necessary, and perhaps I need a little more definition in the foreground.  As it is already getting late, I will let it rest for the night, and look again with fresh eyes in the morning.  This painting makes 1168 in 1168 days.

block in

After the Ride

After the Ride
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

Oh, what a very busy Monday this has been!  I’ve squeezed so much into this day, my head is spinning!  Coming to my easel late (once again), I resist the urge to paint something easy and fast.  Staying on track, I choose another of my reenactment photos, this one with three figures - a man and two horses.  I start with a color block in of the forms, but in my haste I forgot to take a photo of the block in!  The values are always the most important part, so I work them into this first step, making all else that comes after a breeze.  The forms unfold naturally as I dry brush on the acrylics.  I am using a limited palette, and no medium or water to thin down the heavy body paints - which is what makes these paintings so rich with color.  My palette is almost to the stage of replacing the paper layer in my sta-wet palette......but I always stretch this out as long as possible!  Painting number 1167 in 1167 days.

Unpacking the Horses

Unpacking the Horses
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

Yesterday’s block in was the hardest one yet, but today I’ve turned a corner.  This block in seemed to unfold in such a natural way.  It was another complicated composition, and this time, I started with the mass of the dark horse and rider, and treated them as one.  As their angles came together, I connected the masses of the other two white horses.  I considered changing the color of the right one, since white is a questionable color to have going off the edge, but I liked the color - and kept it.  I simply grayed it down, so the bright white would not lead the eye right off the panel.  The landscapes were also a little awkward in acrylic at first (since I always use oils en plein air), but I am also getting more comfortable with them.  I am trying to paint multiple figures each day, all month long, and then see how far I’ve come by month’s end.  Just imagine if I can squeeze in 100 figures this month - what a long was that will go towards improving my skills!  Painting number 1166 in 1166 days.

block in

Adjusting the Reins

Adjusting the Reigns
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

I didn’t realize what a challenge this composition was until I started the block in.  With this method of acrylic figure painting, there is no sketching first, only a laying in of masses.  I began with the background mass first, allowing the horse and rider to emerge as the background tightened in around the forms.  As you can see from my block in image, the man was out of proportion.  So, I adjusted him as necessary to align him with his horse.  With these small figures, I continue to wonder how much face definition is the right amount?  When I look at my reference photo, there is very little detail, only shifts in value, so this is what I paint.  I am letting my right brain take over, and ignore my left brain telling me there are eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc, in this teeny tiny mass.  When I can’t see them, they shouldn’t be painted.   I really love the light in this landscape, and want to do it justice!  This is my 1165th painting in as many days, and another from my civil war reenactment photos.

initial block in - proportions are off....

Greeting the Rider

Greeting the Rider
Acrylic on masonite, 5x7

The photos I took during our civil war reenactment have proven a treasure trove for paintings!  Now that I am concentrating on figures, I am choosing photos with multiple subjects - giving me more to work on in each painting!  I am painting small at only 5x7 inches, so these figures are small.  I want to become so comfortable with painting them, that the strokes can be loose, yet define them clearly.  I spend about 30 minutes on the color block in, and find that I am capturing most of the painting at this point.  Finish work is just making the strokes more poetic, and marrying the colors a bit for good color harmony.  Most importantly, I want those figures to be accurate in form and gesture.  I am including quite a bit of background landscape, and it has been some time since I have painted landscapes in acrylic.  I am using the same methods as the figure and portrait work, only applying them to the landscape - which is certainly different from my former technique.  This painting makes 1162 in 1162 days.

color block in

Red Bandana

Red Bandana
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

This man was dressed in period attire for the Buffalo Bill Days in Leavenworth, while I was attending the plein air event.  His face has so much character - I knew I would paint him!  He allowed me to take his profile shot, as well as a few others, and for today, he is my muse.  With limited time between the gym and picking up the boys, I jumped right into the color block in, using my acrylic palette.  Although I had taken these photos outside, I refrained from adding in the background color until all masses were in place.  I just wasn’t sure what color I would use ahead of time.  I ended up sticking with the true color of the landscape, as it went so well with the surrounding masses.  This study was finished in just over an hour, and I think I would like to paint him larger, and when I have more time.  I think he would make a very interesting portrait indeed!  Painting number 1142 in 1142 days.

Old Saint Nick

Old Saint Nick
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

After a day of family time and shopping, I am squeezing in a painting while the kids finish a game.  They are now calling for me to join the second one - so this is a super short post!  Back to family time and this painting makes number 1061 in 1061 days :)

Painting the Chickens

Painting the Chickens
Oil on wood panel, 9x12
Boone Farm Paint-Out, Augusta Plein Air Art Festival
purchase here

This day's paint out was at the Daniel Boone Farm in Defiance, Missouri. When I walked upon this scene - I KNEW I had to paint it!  After spending over an hour scouting all over the property, with a good idea of what I wanted to paint, I stumbled onto this scene  - and it totally grabbed me!  Lon Brauer had dressed in period attire to paint - so he was the perfect model in the perfect setting! Never before had I even attempted painting a figure for a timed plein air paint, but I LOVED it!  I should have been doing this years ago!  I had so much fun getting this scene down in oils - it was like a concentrated workshop on life drawing - of both Lon and the moving chickens!  With a scene like this, with constant movement - the most important thing to capture is what is most likely to change. The light, shadows, and especially Lon!  He is a fast painter, moving quickly from one painting to the next, so I painted his figure within the first few minutes.  Working next in finer detail, I blocked in the light and shadow.  As one of the chickens would get into a position I liked, I would switch to them, getting them painted in before they moved again.  I had so much fun painting this!  I can't wait until the opportunity presents itself again!  Painting number 872 in 872 days :)

A Horse to Water

 A Horse to Water
Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

This beautiful, balmy day finds me "pumping up the color" in this landscape.  Perhaps I am being influenced by the barren winter landscape, and rebelling with my bolder hues!  I can't quite decide whether this is finished or not, so I will let it rest on the easel and look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow.  My wood panel was first primed with a pumpkin orange color, which can be seen peeking through here and there.  I do love painting on that color - it adds to the energy of the paint.  I have a whole stack of bare wood panels - just waiting for my attention.  If only there were more hours in every day!  Painting number 788 in 788 days.

Despair

Despair
Oil on panel, 6x6

Oh my gosh - this was fun to paint! This is completely out of the realm in which I paint!  I am Suzie Sunshine to the core, and almost always paint happy, cheerful paintings full of peace and rest.  Well, today, I have jumped out of my comfort zone and tackled something dark and foreboding.  What is he thinking?  What has happened to this man?  The only panels I have left are primed in this pumpkin color, which is not what I prefer for portrait work.....but I think it adds to the drama in this case.  Following the rule "if in doubt - don't", I have loosely brushed in the masses and used my palette knife for additional shadow work.  I only washed over the background with some of shadow color, wiping off with a paper towel.  This took under an hour in it's small size.  Wild and crazy - this is my 428th painting in as many days :)

Jason

Jason
Oil on panel, 11x14
sold

On this third day of the Adam Clague figure and portrait workshop, I have completed this painting of Jason, our model.  My "firsts" for today are - first man painted from life and first 3/4 figure painted from life!  The focus for today was edges, and I was mindful of varying them from soft to hard to lost altogether.  My goal for today was to lay in the darks of the skin - and leave their values alone!  By simply paying attention, I was able to accomplish this without strife.  The 3/4 figure was a bit challenging....I loved the angle of the head, but would have rather had the legs go out to the right. But alas, this is part of the game.  With 7 or 8 artists all vying for the best painting position, this is certainly a give and take situation.  I had good light on my palette and panel (unlike Monday's virtual painting in the dark), but had to give a little on premo figure position.  To make the most of this, I chose my composition carefully.  I was really drawn to a straight profile angle, but didn't want to paint looking directly into the spotlight.  I may just try it one of these days, as it is the second day I've been drawn to the profile only to talk myself out of it!  This is painting number 422 in as many days.  

Upon arriving home tonight, I found this wonderful news in my inbox!  I have been selected as a featured artist in an article by the Missouri Arts Council titled Snapshots of the Missouri Arts Blogosphere!  I am SO excited, I can't hardly see straight!  What an honor it is to mentioned with such amazing artists across the state!  One never knows what a day will bring - this one certainly was a gift!

After the Ride

After the Ride
Oil on panel, 16x12
Civil War Reenactment on the farm

The late afternoon light poured in from the west, putting a warm glow on the countryside.  The horses now tied and grazing after their rides.  In the mid-1800's, this place was a horse farm.  It feels so right to have these beautiful animals back on the farm.  True, the winters are tough when leading them to water - and you really can NOT make them drink, but I still miss having a horse around.  This painting makes 232 in 232 days.  I really have to get more panels cut!  I just don't seem to have a day to dedicate to getting them cut, and priming the surfaces.  I'd rather be painting, after all.......

Will

Will
Graphite on bristol, 14x11

Working again with one of my first loves, graphite!  This medium will just do anything I ask of it, stay where I put it, and shade like charcoal never will.  I have little need for any but the 8B, perhaps a little mechanical pencil for eyelash and brow work, but all else is 8B all the way.  I can not get the deep, dark depth I want from anything harder.  I just love intense subject matter, it draws me in every time.  This is artwork number 200 in 200 days!!!  Time for a glass of wine, or two :)