I've Been Framed!

Edisto Clouds Oil on board 30" x 10" Click for larger image

Yesterday was like Christmas and my wife was like Santa. When I got home from work I found that she had gone by the framer's shop and picked up a landscape painting that I had sent in. I haven't framed anything of my own in quite some time, so it was really nice to see a piece of mine all dressed up in linen and mahogany.

I apologize for the distortion, but I couldn't get a decent angle without major glare. Many of you may have seen this piece before, but if you haven't, you can see a less distorted view by clicking here.

I'd also like to take a moment to say I know I'm falling way behind on my blog updates. Large projects at work and at home have kept me from my easel and sketch book lately. So please keep in mind the name of the blog you're looking at.

Coleus - Step Three

Click for larger image

I apologize for the lighting of this photo, but when the paint is wet it's hard to get a shot without glare.

I added some more darks in the background and started blocking in the shodows on the plant. Still trying to capture the value scale before I put the paint on in earnest.

Coleus - Step Two

Click for a larger image

Well, I got a quick session in tonight after some freelance work and before bed. My poor wife has been balancing the checkbook and paying bills. She has been taking that off my hands lately and is giving me the time to do this kind of stuff. I really love her for it.

Anywho... I'm still dealing mainly in defining the value scale of the painting and adding a few more details. I mixed some Viridian into the Transparent Oxide Red to start working some local color into it.

I'm trying to walk the tight rope of looseness and accuracy. So far I'm holding on, but I may have fallen into the too loose side of things when I was working on the big stem thing that comes out of the middle of the plant. (Does anyone know what that's called? My brother Rick may know, he knows everything about gardening.)I realized I was avoiding it and saved it for last tonight. I should have begun with it.

Next I'll be blocking in some basic colors so ya'll come back now, ya hear?

The rest of the sketch...

OK, here's the whole sketch. I didn't think the composition was very good, but after reading the comments so far, I felt like I was holding back the truth by not letting you see my whole sketch book. so, here it is...

Lunch!

Spider on the deck

I was grilling some chicken on the deck last night and found that I had some company. I turned and saw that our friend here had spun an enormous web between the deck and the house. It was worth his time and trouble. Many a poor moth had fumbled into. He had spun little sacks of silk around his prisoners, saving them for feasting at a later time.

But as I watched, he crawled across the web and began to suck one of the little sacks dry. It was disgusting and fascinating at the same time.

Clearly, it had to be sketched.

Coleus - Oil underpainting

Coleus Oil on masonite 18" x 10"

Click here for a larger image

You may remember the sketch for this from a previous post in July. My original intent was to do this in oil. So intead of watching Law & Order tonight I got the underpainting going on this piece. I first rubbed Viridian green into the board with a rag to season it, and then painted the sketch with Transparent Oxide Red.

But I do have to go to work tomorrow, so I'm going to call it a night. I'll get back to this shortly.

Later all.

Guess again, I wasn't REALLY done...

Click here for larger image
I thought I had finished this painting last night. But, alas, I was so wrong. In fact, I think I have one more session to go on this.

I looked at it this morning and realized it just was not complete. I needed more modeling in the face. I'm trying to maintain the freshness of the underpainting, but it deserves a more complete finish. So I started dabbing at different areas of the face with some color mixtures, and before long I was committed.

I thought this was looking pretty good, but my son saw it and said, "Looks great Dad, but he looks really cold (dead)".

Fair enough. The light where I work and the light I showed it to the family in are so different, I couldn't see it, but he was right.

So a few more warm tones in the face and I think I am good to go. Chris leaves for college on Thursday, so I hope I can have it ready to go before then.

Expect one more post of this painting.

Techincal Note: I work on a laptop with a 21" monitor connected to it. On the Laptop the image looks pretty close to what I have painted. On the large monitor, it is much darker and a lot of the details are darkened. I would love to know what you guys are seeing.

Captain Chris Sets Sail

Captain Chris Oil on Canvas 16" x 12"

You may have seen earlier versions of this painting from previous posts. It is a portrait I have been working on of a very creative young man that lives down the street from me. He adapted a video game called "Escape from Monkey Island" into a play. He wrote the script, directed and starred in a performace put on at the high school up the street. It was quite wonderful.

His name is Chris Heady and he keeps a blog as well. You can find him here:
Chris Heady

He's departing for college next week. This painting is his graduation gift, so I thought I better finish it so it has time to dry before he leaves. You have to have something to hang on your dorm room wall, right?

I know he will do well.

Ah Ha! I am done!

I don't care if this is any good or not. I AM DONE!

After all, how long can one man spend on a little 4 x 6 sketch?

According to my calculations... Exactly 5 days!

For what it's worth folks, here you go. I have to move on. Wally, I only hope to twist your mind for a week the way you have twisted mine. :-)

Bless all of you for your "encouragement" throughout the week.

Seriously, it has been a lot of fun. :-)

You guys are the best.