Thursday, December 16, 2010

lights and darks

a simple study of lights and darks. it was interesting to see light showing up in places i did not expect - such as beneath her breasts.
acrylic on canvas, 16x20

Monday, November 15, 2010

working fast

the following 3 paint "sketches" were done in one evening using the same model. each piece took about 30-40 minutes. my goal was to complete 3 pieces having different looks and using different techniques. i am a pretty slow painter, so i used this method to get out of my comfort zone and to stretch myself a bit.


each is acrylic on canvas, 16x20.

Friday, September 24, 2010

working with the background

i am still working with the process of preparing a random background one week, and then seeing how to work a live model into it the following week. this is the latest example. i had no idea what pose the model was going to hold, but when he sat down as he did, i immediately saw how the curve of his back fit into an existing curvy swirl in the background. the shape his legs made matched other swirls.

(acrylic on canvas, 16x20)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

red white and blue bill

i am continuing with the process of taking the previous week's palette and using it to make the background pattern for the following week.  in this portrait, rose red and ultramarine blue comprised the background. so, i used those two colors in this week's palette as well. the entire work - the background and the portrait - are comprised of those two colors (plus pale yellow to make the red an orange, the complement of blue).

(acrylic on canvas, 16x20)

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

finding the person in the background

i have recently begun to prepare canvases with random colors and patterns. generally, after a session i take the paint remaining on my palette and use it to mess up a new canvas. then, at the next session i take the prepared canvass and use it as a starting point. it is interesting because it presents challenges and opportunities. the challenge is in making the prepared canvas from a previous session work for the current session. it seems to be working out that i can sometimes "find" the figure or the right spot for the figure in the seeming randomness of the mess i previously made.

in the following example, i liked how the darker background areas would work to subdue both the model's face and his nether regions. also, his chest had the most light on it, which seemed to work well with the lighter yellow area behind it. on the right side of the canvas, there appears to be some motion or activity. i will see whether i leave it as is, or if i find a subject that would go well with that area.
[acrylic on canvas pad, 16x20]


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

the benefits of a model who does yoga


a model we had recently at the Tuesday Night Group, who also does a lot of yoga, took on a pretty ambitious pose. she draped herself over a pile of pillows. even though supported, this is not an easy pose to hold for 30 minutes at a time. yet she did it - 3 times (with breaks in between). i decided not to paint the pillows, because l thought the arch of her body was pretty dramatic as-is. [acrylic on canvas pad, 16x20]

Thursday, March 25, 2010

texture

i started working on some different surfaces. for the piece below, i took some prepared pumice and mixed it with medium and paint and used it to rough up areas of the canvas. then at a figure session, i tried to find areas to fit the figure between the rough areas. i think the result is interesting and will continue to try this approach for a while.[acrylic and pumice on canvas, 24x36]

Sunday, March 14, 2010

glimpses

i am working on a "collage" painting of some images that have either been in my mind or have struck me. i am fitting them together in what i hope can be something interesting to look at, as well as tell a story. here are a few glimpses of different components of the painting.[oil on canvas]

Friday, January 29, 2010

salon at 52 o street

our tuesday night group participated in studio gallery's first "salon". read more about it here:

http://dupontcirclearts.blogspot.com/2010/01/at-michelines-studio-talk-and.html