Still Life: Part 2

Egggs!!!

Or just 'egg'.

Still Life: Part 1

Dusted off the old oils earlier this week and did a still life. This is the same setup for that last digital still life I did a few weeks ago. Clearly I need more practice!

Portraits Part 3: Molly

Molly, 30"x40"

It's been a long time since I posted a traditional oil portrait. This was done over four sessions for three hours per session. It's pretty big (at least for me), at 30"x40". I chose the large size because I wanted to paint her hands. If you're interested, I use Old Holland paints. Bloody expensive as they come, but hey, you only live once.
I must say that while I enjoy these painting sessions and I grow a lot as an artist through them, I HATE the yellow colored lighting from fluorescent bulbs. Argh!

Portraits Part 2: Maya

Here's another painting of Maya. We loved her hair so much while doing the last painting, but we wanted her to wear it down the second time. Maya was more than happy to grant our request. Hopefully, this painting captures at least a small part of her beauty.

Maya with Hair Down, 16"x20"

Portraits Part 1: Maya

Hello!

Sorry about the long wait between posts. I'm currently working on a really exciting project involving one of my first loves: biology. I'll be giving sneak peeks in the weeks to come, but for now, it's staying on the DL.

In the meantime, here's an oil portrait I did about 3 months ago. I only now just got it photographed.

Maya, 16"x20"

Plein Air Part 4

This was painted right after a morning snowfall on New Year's Eve. I was supposed to be helping out with getting ready for the party we had that night. Sorry mom.

Life Paintings Part 1

New Year, New Decade, New Possibilities, Bloody Old Medium.

Plein Air Part 3

Some more plein airs. Can you tell which was painted first?

Plein Air Part 2

Here are some more plein airs. The coming fall is starting to add a bit of variety. More to come!!!!

Plein Air Part 1

Here are two plein air paintings I've done in the past few weeks. I worked a lot in oil painting while I was in art school, but plein aire is new for me. Much like oil painting in the studio, except you have to lug everything with you, the Earth has to do this annoying thing known as ROTATING, which wreaks havoc on your lighting and you get eaten alive by mosquitoes. The plus side is you really get out of the house and truly get to appreciate God's green Earth.


This first painting is a view of the Hudson River from the Montgomery Place Estate near Barrytown in Upstate New York.


This photo illustrates very clearly why it's a good idea to paint on site versus painting from a photo. Note how drained the color is in the photo. Also, while the foliage is defined, the sky is a complete white wash. The camera could not catch the true color or the subtle value changes my eyes were able to see.


This is my backyard. You can see my mom's hydrangeas and Godzilla sized rose bushes.

PS: FYI, plein air is short for 'en plein air', French for 'in the open air'. Plein air painting has been around since the dawn of painting, but the invention of tubed oil paints and French box easels in the 1870s truly helped it to take off.

Post 100

It seems somehow serendipitous that on my 100th blog post, I should display my recent foray back into more traditional media (or analog media, for the nerds in the audience). Here's an oil portrait I did recently (after have not painted in oil for about 4 years). It was done in three hours.

Do I have a lot of work ahead of me? Of course. That's why artists do what they do for their entire lives. Am I satisfied with this painting? Yes and no. Yes, because I wasn't sure how much I've lost over the years of not painting in oil. I'm pleased to say I didn't lose too much and I'm almost ready to say that I'm exactly where I left off. And at the same time, I know things can be better.

Well, I've got the rest of my life to learn more and produce better work. Not nearly enough time.