End in Sight, Yet Far Away

Missed my self-imposed deadline of Sunday, so I'll be at it again next weekend. So many little things to attend to!  The front five kids are pretty complete, except for maybe putting a bomb pop in the hand of the kid on the left and de-activating some of the stripes on the romper on the right, and adding folds.  Pavement needs to be scumbled over this dark layer, and then figure out what color shadows ought to be.  I like the shadow colors on the curb.  All of the other people, their clothing and skin and well -- everything-- needs attention.  Hopefully, whatever that ends up being will not require much change to the front five.  Now I guess I know why you're not supposed to take isolated parts to completion ahead of other stuff.  

Moving Along to Ugly Adolescence

Block-in completed.  This is an enjoyable process even if some things are dead wrong, because nothing is permanent and all feels possible.  Still dealing with chunkier shapes of flat color and exaggerated value.  It's the next stage where things start to get.... well, like an ugly adolescent.

Because you start paying attention to how you think it ought to be, you start pulling punches, fearful of making mistakes and wasting time and paint and canvas.  Bits and pieces move along at varying rates and out of synch, and you despair of ever getting through this stage and having things turn out.  You avoid some areas altogether (shadows) and completely overwork others (skin).  You have no clue what to do about the pavement. But, you are committed to finishing this weekend (and getting past using 2nd person narrative; first person feels like too much ownership at this stage).

"Waiting for the Parade" -- and hoping to make art again.

 I see that it s been just about a year since I last posted here.  So much for accountability.  Truth is that I have painted very, very little; maybe lost my mojo, and giving serious thought to giving up my studio.  The day job takes 3 days of the week, leaving the other 4 available for chores, errands, R & R, family stuff -- and then maybe time for art. My son and I have talked at length about how frustrating and demoralizing it is to try to do something you love, but do it poorly.  Here's to hoping the slump has schlepped.

Happy to have a project on the easel again and a deadline to meet, and while engaged with this new ideas and plans beginning to bubble up again.

 Received an RFP (request for proposal) for artwork for a new hospital being built in SD, asking for americana/nostalgia themes for a "Main Street" commons area.  I submitted photos of existing work, samples and  proposed commission ideas.  The committee  commissioned two paintings, a 24 x 36 oil and a 30 x 22 watercolor.  The oil will have to dry a spell before it can be shipped in the beginning of March, so that one has to be tackled first. It will be based on the little painting above (9 x 13 oil of the kids at the 4th of July parade). 

Here's the underpainting (24 x 36)...

And here's the initial block in, trying out some colors and values, changing a few things around.  What works in a small painting doesn't always fly when you blow it up three times bigger. 

Time Out (Not Sorry)

 Watercolor 22 x 15

Yes, another picture of Sarah Jane.....

Guess I haven't been here in a while....  lots of good things happened! The painting show above "She Wants to Play" was awarded first place in Northwest Watercolor Society's 72nd Annual Open Exhibition, juror Thomas Schaller, AND Charlene  Collins Freeman interviewed me for an article in their newsletter:
http://www.nwws.org/dnn/Portals/0/newsletters/JulyAugust2012HotPress.pdf

"Progressions" was awarded the Silver Medal in the Red River Watercolor Society's 19th Annual National Juried Watermedia Exhibition, juried by Donna Zagotta.

 "Gold Coast Shoppers" was accepted into San Diego Watercolor Society's 32nd International Exhibition, juried by Nicholas Simmons.

Needless to say, it's time to get painting again -- feeling pumped!!

Starting to Paint again........

I tried to simplify this drawing, but there are still too many little fiddly shapes and a lot of "itemization" going on. I've tried painting this image many times (because I really like it) but not very successfully (those who know me know how I feel about layers and glazing). So, I decided that this would serve as a warm up exercise to get back into painting after my long sojourn as a mosaicist. No worries, no pressure and no expectations. I'm just going to work my way through, doing whatever, and see what happens. So far so good.

This is a waiter at an outdoor cafe in Piazza Navona, where Bernini's Four Rivers Fountains is located, and where there is a street fair of sorts just about every evening.

Boys and Their Toys

30 x 40 watercolor on canvas

My personal favorite of the three paintings. Even without knowing the words, can't you just "hear" what they're saying? I liked painting on canvas, and I liked the look of the final varnished surface, and I even liked the idea of being able to get up close and personal to the surface --- but IMHO, watercolors belong in a matt and under glass. Just what I am used to.

Waiting for a Table

24 x 30 watercolor

The second of the commissions mentioned yesterday. I was going to title this "Dogs Eat Free" but that doesn't seem to be universally true in this country. I have seen it in Italy, where the dog sits in a chair and has his own dish at the table!

Siesta or Sale?

24 x 30 watercolor

A case of diverging agendas..... One of 3 commissioned paintings on the theme of regular folks out and about doing regular (upbeat) things.

2010 Madonna sketch

Much too humid to paint today, so instead I worked on value studies in my sketchbook as per some great instruction last week from Tom Francesconi of Chicago. The basic idea being this: get it solved before you paint, and then when you DO paint, paint with abandon. Absolutely great advice.

I am anticipating my mother's request for a piece to donate for her charity raffle, and perhaps if I get something done I can take it with me when I visit Detroit in August. Continuing the mother and child theme begun a few years back.