Addictions, Gamblin In Progress

I am still working on this one, a bit at a time. The cards so far have been the most difficult and there is still much to do on them. For something so plain and simple, they are a lot of work getting the perspective, size of one set of cards in relation to the other set, plus the size and angle of the each card. Still isn't correct but getting closer.

This photo was taken at night, under fluorescent lighting. I placed the canvas inside a plastic box to help diffuse some of the light to lessen the glare. There is still some glare but less than what it would have been if the light had hit the canvas direct. Next time though, I am using a deeper plastic box to see if that works better.

Addictions 4, Gambling WIP

Addictions 4, Gambling

Oils

10" x 10"

Stretched Canvas

The canvas was toned with Transparent Red Oxide then used Payne's Gray, Raw Umber and Titanium white to mix gray values. Blocked in the major elements and now will have to adjust shapes, size and values before proceeding.

Reference photo used with permission of the photographer, Ozone71 at Flickr.

Strawberry Jug

Strawberry Jug

Oils

9" x 11 1/2"

Gessoed unstretched canvas which will be mounted on hardboard when dry. I set this jug on one of my work tables, painted it, then imagined it full of flowers. For this painting, my palette was Titanium White, Terre Verte, Dioxazine Purple, Cad. Red Light, Cad. Red Med., Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Caput Mortuum, Cad. Yellow Light, Indian Yellow, French Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue.

Strawberry Jug WIP

I used my Kodak Easy Share camera to take this photo of the painting currently on my easel. I think the rechargeable battery is going so it may be a couple of days before I can get a good photo. Painted on gessoed unstretched canvas, 9" x 11 1/2"(12"). Still more work to do on the vase and ground.

Life Gets in the Way Sometimes

Sketched on Tuesday, 2-19-08


Sketched on Wednesday, 02-20-08




Sketched this morning, 02-21-08. As you can see I haven't been concerned with correct spacing or angles but in learning shapes such as how the eye sits in the socket; which plane comes forward which plane recedes. It is fairly simple to do one eye but much more difficult doing two eyes. Drawing the eyes the same size and level, the pupils and iris about the same size, keeping the contours about the same, placing the highlights in the correct place and, giving the eye its 3D look by placing it in its sockets by use of values and planes. These sketches were all from imagination (not looking at a photo). The first image is based on a reference photo but did not use it to sketch this one. The single eye sketched was done after watching a video on You Tube by mattsillustration.com

02-20-08

It has been a busy week and not much painting done. Other obligations get in the way plus, the studio just had to be cleaned and sorted again. I did paint the lettering on a wooden doggy bone marker for my twin's dearly departed dog, Coffeebreak. Now I have to stretch canvas which I have procrastinated doing. Things such as cleaning, grocery shopping and helping my Mom who has macular degeneration, often are interspersed with painting or sketching time.

Today my brother brought me a 21" computer monitor. When looking at the blog and my website it makes me wonder if all the images look as washed out to you as they now do to me on this new monitor??? So that means it is time for new photos of the paintings or use the light levels in Photoshop to adjust the ones that are displayed.

Still Life Flowers Again

I just couldn't give up on this painting. It is really rough but it has taught me several things. The first being how much I need to learn about color, transitions, values and control of oil paints. Would I paint this again? Yes, definitely. I don't care for the leaves in part because of the light stripes that were going across each leaf but also because I thoroughly messed up the length of the stem and placement of the leaves. Am I disappointed with this painting? Not in the least.

Still Life Flowers

Worked on this still life again today. The green leaves look duller than they actually are. Took out the venetian blind shadows. May try painting this again someday but on a larger canvas.

Indian Sketch - Bell Pow Wow

Quick pencil/charcoal sketches of a Cherokee indian dancer, from a reference photo taken at the local Bell Pow Wow by my brother. I was only going to post one sketch then decided that even though they aren't great that each sketch has taught me something. The difficulty in drawing from this photo is that the eyes are indistinct but this is good practice even if at this moment the eyes look more like black currants. :)

Took Time to Blog Browse

I took time this morning before painting walls, to browse a few blogs. Always one of my favorites is Simon Andrews. From his blog links, I viewed the colorful work of German artist, Irina Kozlova, and Texas artist, Justin Clayton, whose paintings of food is enough to make one salivate.

Painting Walls

This week has been devoted to painting walls in a house rather than canvas. What is nice about that is seeing the pale yellow and lovely pale pink called "Toast". Brings a bit of Spring into the cold days. Hopefully back at the easel on Friday! Can hardly wait.

Still Life Flowers Update

I put up the wrong photo. This is what it actually looks like now. The photo below shows the shape of the vase shadow which was all wrong. So I worked that area and forgot to take a new photo. Silly me!

I have been struggling with this painting today. The paint is so thick and this will probably go to the back of the pile. One day, I can look back at it and hopefully see how far my painting has developed.

N. on 59

Oils

7" x 5"

Ampersand Gessobord

This was painted from a photo I took in 2006 of a place approximately 15 miles north of where I live. I painted this scene previously in watercolor. With oils, I am fascinated how a stroke can change a shape or color or easily make a mess.

Still Life Flowers on my easel

Flower Still Life in progress

5" x 7"

Oils

Ampersand Gessobord

My reference photo, taken in 2006, had a play of shadows cast by the flowers, vase and venetian blinds across the kitchen table which made interesting patterns. This photo of the painting shows the basic shapes and positions of the objects. I think the flowers are day lilies. Next, will work on the table top and paint the shadow patterns before going further with the flowers and vase.

Still Life Flower Sketch

A quick charcoal sketch from a photo I took in 2006 of lilies in a vase on the kitchen table. I didn't try to draw the lines straight going across the table. Those are actually shadows cast by the venetian blinds.

Addictions 3, Chocolate & Hand Sketch

I wasn't pleased with the background so worked on it a bit more. I also worked on the chocolate but the changes on it may not be as noticeable.

Just a quick charcoal sketch of my hand as though I were holding cards.

Addictions 3, Chocolate

I updated the painting, changing just a bit the upper foil on the viewer's right, added in some warmer tints into the foil, added more lights, and added the white paper ribbon at the base of the kiss.

I may put the little tag in to add a bit more interest but I want to look at this for a bit before continuing on. I am also not sure about the negative space near the upper foil area on the viewer's right. It may be a bit too static for my taste. The photo is reading a little darker than the painting actually is in real life.

Addictions 3, Chocolate Blocking In

Addictions 3, Chocolate

Work In Progress

Oils

6" x 6"

Ampersand Gessobord

Would you believe no chocolate in the house and there is snow on the ground with slick highways. Maybe this afternoon the roads will clear and I can make a chocolate run to the store. So this painting is roughly based on a reference photo from the Wet Canvas Reference Image Library, taken by William Gunther. I have taken the liberty of changing the color scheme of the background and the wrapper shown in the photo. I have shaped aluminum foil into the shape of "kisses" so I can see how overhead lighting affects the values on the foil. So far my palette is Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Virdian, Indian Yellow and Titanium White.