New still life painting

Still life painting of eggplant, peppers and tomato, 11" x 14" oil painting on canvas

This is the painting I've been working on in class at the Maitland Art Center. The green pepper gave me fits for some reason, but I feel it's time to move on and let this go. I'm working on another one at home with peacock feathers and peaches on my antique sideboard. It's proved to be a challenge getting the fine detail painted on the peacock feathers, so I made another trip to the art supply store (!) and got a different type of medium (Gamblin Galkyd). The store clerk seemed to know a lot about paint and convinced me this was by far the best medium, when thinned appropriately with spirits/turps, to use for detail work. Of course, a number of other items made it into my cart and my wallet gave up another 50 clams (sigh). This sure is an expensive undertaking.

Copy of Velazquez's Madonna finished

"The Immaculate Conception" after Velazquez, 16" X 20" oil on canvas

It's usually a good learning experience to copy the masters and one of my all time favorite painters is Velazquez. I worked on this in one of my classes at Maitland Art Center recently and had intended to do some more things to it, although I wasn't quite sure what. It was done in the style of grisaille and I never quite got back to it after my last post on glazing. I finally feel it's time to let it go. After a while, interest and momentum tends to dissipate, boredom sets in and an unfinished painting (or one that you feel is unfinished) can become a sort of albatross around the neck, zapping energy. The painting served it's purpose and I learned quite a bit from it. There will always be more paintings and learning experiences waiting in the wings.

New Painting--Debra Coleman, Blues Musician

Debra Coleman, Blues Musician, 20" x 16", oil on canvas

I finished this painting today just in time to enter into the Gamblin Torrit Grey Competition (at least, I hope it went through okay!) Instead of dumping leftover materials into the ground, every year Gamblin recycles the pigments gathered in their air filtration system which is used to protect workers from pigment dust. The recycled pigments are used to create a grey paint, which they call Torrit Grey. They offer the tubes for free during the spring and artists are encouraged to create a painting using black, white and Torrit grey oil paints. One of my "step mates" at the YMCA step aerobics class I attend, Jim Mills, is a talented photographer of blues and jazz musicians. He kindly gave me one of his photos of Debra Coleman to interpret in paint. As usual, I mistakenly thought I had a lot of time to work on it and didn't realize until a few days ago that the deadline was today. Working in tones is always a great learning experience and I came to appreciate the warm undertones of this year's Torrit Grey paint. I understand that every year the dominant tones are somewhat different, depending on the makeup of the recycled pigments. I also developed a sort of bond with Debra while working on her portrait and can't wait to hear her play the guitar. It sounds like just the kind of music I'd like.

New artwork from my journal

...That's Amore, 9" x 12", mixed media acrylic painting

I decided to get a "real" journal with a nice cover and good paper and start "journaling." Just maybe something might develop into an idea for a good painting (hope). The thing was amazingly expensive, but with my 40% off coupon from Michael's it was bearable. Now if I can get over the fear of ruining it. I've got two pages semi-done. Here's the first one which Jerry said looks like pizzas. Who knows, maybe subconsciously I was hungry for a nice veggie cheese on thin crust. It sounds pretty good right now. Better go eat.

New abstract painting

8" x 10" acrylic painting on Masonite

After finally getting the art room into decent shape where I can walk around and find things, I'm now trying to finish some unresolved paintings. I've worked and worked this painting (like most every one I have), but--surprise!--suddenly I began to like it today. I put a coat of white gesso over most of it and cut into it with my favorite brushes--which aren't really brushes but vinyl-tipped painting sticks. It started to get away from me again when I started working on the two eye-like spots, but I forced myself to stop. My OCD tendencies aren't easy to control sometimes.

New Cat Painting

"Gradycakes" (as we like to call him)

Today was rainy and cold--maybe cool to upstate people :-)--and not good for much but surfing (way, way too long) and working on painting. I'm still working on painting fur. After my unsatisfying experience painting Marley, I wanted to try and capture Grady's silky coat. He's a short hair cat, but his fur is surprisingly soft and silky. I certainly have enough subjects around here to practice my fur painting techniques on, but I'm far and away more competent in picking up fur on the floor. Tomorrow is always another day.

New original flamingo painting

8" x 10", acrylic on masonite
Available