Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Bacon Egg Biscuit
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Reagan
I like this painting. I think it is done. If I were to work on it again it would become a different painting. In some ways I like it better than my latest unfinished Obama and Palin paintings. With those two I have become obsessed with bringing to them a new level of realism or finish. The Palin painting has become really hard-edged with lots of blending and little stippled brush marks. I wonder why is it that different painting begin to develop in different ways. Once the painting falls into it's niche and you refine your approach you can't go back.
I have begun a Vermeer copy. It sits in my studio unfinished. I want to be able to make a painting like that. For better or for worse it is some kind on influence on everything that I am working on. In the very least it has compelled me to make some paintings that have no dry brush or white canvas showing. The paint I am using is rich with medium and takes days to dry. When I am done with this jar of medium I will make another with no damar and those days will turn to weeks.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
November Fifth
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
48 Hours
Friday, October 31, 2008
Poppyseed Oil
I am painting pretty directly for the most part. A little blending when the surfaces allow it. The paint layers are probably borderline transparent. At times the paint is so thin they are like a glaze. I am actually beginning my paintings with this medium rich paint. I just need to make sure that I leave the areas with lighter values pretty clean. If I compose the paintings reasonably well the paintings go pretty smoothly. I began a couple Bouguereau copies with my new slick approach. I also started a Morandi copy which is very exciting.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
More Barack
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Obama
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
More on Palin
I had some left over mud on my palette and made a mid tone color for Sarah Palin. I like to slop the paint on pretty loosely. I used this mid tone for a few minutes until that approach started to feel old. I then took the painting off the easel and left it alone. No reason to overwork anything.
I think I am pretty sure I won't be doing any blending on this painting. As the painting develops I am hoping that the last layer of paint will be more transparent. I'd like Palin to look ghostly. We'll see.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Symmetry
After letting the painting sit I went in and started adding highlights. I don't think there is really any special order to go about things but it seemed sensible. This is when I realized that her eyes were way off. I am not one to sit around and study my paintings to see what is wrong. I usually just wait until it hits me in the face. I had some left over mud on my palette and moved the eye over. It was at this point that I realized that Sarah Palin's face has perfect symmetry. Each side is exactly like the other.
The drawing at this point is by no means perfect but oddly enough I feel like this painting is going in the right direction. It is still open and I can make more changes as I go.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sarah Palin
Friday, October 17, 2008
Ronald Reagan
I have been wanting to paint Ronald Reagan. This is the underpainting. When the paint starts to dry and get tacky I'll go back into it. I don't want the paint to get muddy. I have been wanting to finish all of my paintings in one sitting but that can lead to more obsessive compulsive behavior than I need right now. I think making these underpaintings and stepping away and getting some distance might be a good change.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
John Adams
This is wet on wet, done in one sitting, the way it should be. My medium is finally oily enough that the paint won't dry before I finish it. I am happy with his fleshy cheeks. I'll try to set this one as my standard for the others.
Monday, October 13, 2008
George Washington
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Goopy Surface
Monday, September 22, 2008
Fast Painting
Friday, September 19, 2008
Alright Painting
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Oops
I am reassessing what I mean by painting as directly as possible. I want to paint everything only once in the hopes of preserving some freshness. I don't need any doubts or hesitation. I just want to paint the lemon or possibly a lime. It's not that I want my brain to be wired to never blink. I'm not confronting a rogue nation with nuclear weapons. I'm just making a painting. What I want is the act of painting to be sort of a reflection unto itself.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Too Thiebaud
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Light Purple Pip
Overwhelming
Crispy Edges
Day Two
The Beginning
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