July 24, 2014

Whitehurst Freeway update

I've been working on this on and off for a few weeks now. Yesterday I worked on the x-shaped trusses on the underside of the freeway.  I think it's time to let this sit again and think about it.

July 17, 2014

More Sunflowers and "Courbet Green"

I got a sample from Williamsburg paints of their handmade oil color "Courbet Green."  I don't think it's just the name that inspired me, but the color seems just right for painting sunflower fields.





This one needs work -- I ran out of time after roughing it in

July 14, 2014

Sunflowers at McKee-Beshers

The sunflowers are in bloom this week and I was not going to miss them... even though it's close to 100 degrees out.  I did a very hot, very quick painting in the sunflower field this afternoon.

Although I was focused on the flowers right in front of me, in the photo it looks like out in the field one flower is head above the rest, "look at me!"

I worked on this a bit more in the studio to deepen some of the contrast -- necessary because painting in the sunlight blinded me to some of the flatness of the values.

July 10, 2014

Under the Whitehurst Freeway, from sketch to ...

About a month ago, I did a small sketch while I was in Georgetown, looking under the Whitehurst Freeway.  Today I decided that I'd head back to Georgetown to work on a larger painting, and as a first step, repaint the sketch in the studio onto a larger canvas.  My plan was that I'd take that partly-painted work and bring it with me to finish on site.

The weather isn't cooperating, so for now, the painting stays in the studio.  I may keep working on it there after all.

this is what I'm working on in the studio now based on the sketch

this is the sketch I did last month, painted outside

July 5, 2014

Reflection in Sunglasses


It's hard to resist looking at the images in mirror sunglasses.  This morning, I was struck by this one and had to paint it. Here's the painting in progress.

The final is on top. The big changes between its "almost done" stage and finish were: the change in the sunglass reflection to minimize the dark trees that looked, dead center, like an angry eye;  returning the slope of the chin to the original sketched in shape; a fuller lower lip; and refinement of the chair straps so they wrapped more fully around the metal bars.




July 3, 2014

Portrait

This portrait-in-progress is based on a photo taken in Bethany Beach in June.  I liked the strong light on our faces and clothes and I wanted to play around with portraiture, so here this is.  As far as likeness goes, it's not so important to me as making a good painting, but I have to say... there's some strong, easy to identify faces in here.  I plan to keep playing around with some of color of the darks -- I painted them in layers of color and left some of the blues showing through.  In some spots, the blue is exactly what I wanted.  In others, I may make some adjustments when I see how the paint looks as it dries.