Here's one that I started yesterday (3/30/09).
I was pretty happy with the basic forms and values, and I saw some potential for a decent little painting. It's an image that I've been wanting to paint for quite a while now, and I was glad to see it coming together.
But I was having a bit of difficulty with it.
It's acrylic on a 12X12" piece of gessoed Masonite, which is fine.
But I was having issues with "brush drag" while painting it.
My brushes felt like they were sort of sticking to the surface, and it was driving me crazy.
I determined that the water-based gesso had raised the "grain" of the wood, and it was like painting on sandpaper.
So, tonight I sanded the painting with medium grit paper.
Not so much that it obliterated the image altogether, but it did knock it back some.
Then I layed on a thick coat of acrylic gloss medium, let it dry, and sanded it again.
When I started applying another layer of paint, it was like night and day.
The paint went on just as smooth and clean as you please.
It was a real pleasure to paint on!
I don't have a photo yet, but I'll try to get one posted tomorrow.
If you're an acrylic painter you've just got to try this.
It's a real treat.

I worked on this a LITTLE bit this afternoon.
Adding a bit of color and contrast to foreground figures.
Not entirely happy with where it's going, but we'll see.
I think this is going to me my last oil painting though (IF I actually finish it).
I think acrylics suit me and my temperment better.
I get better results with acrylics, and they don't take forever to dry!
I guess it's all according to what you're used to and comfortable with.
I've been trying to get used to oils, but I'm not having much luck with them.

This is just me thinking out loud.
Today, I think I need to add a little 'pop' to the current painting.
I need to add some darks and color to the closest kids, to bring them forward a bit, and add some depth to the whole thing.
The little girl on the lower left (she actually has on a very colorful swimsuit), the tall girl (also on the left), and the two boys on the right who are running into the spray are my most obvious targets for enhancement.
The little girl with the red shirt who's holding her hand out in front of her is very cute, and adds a lot of visual interest, so I think she also needs a bit of refinement. She's wearing a little star-shaped sheriff's badge on her swimsuit. I like that a lot.
I'm not too crazy about that little guy in the foreground, who's bent over with both hands out in front of him.
I either need to make him bigger, or take him out completely.
I haven't decided which way to go with him just yet.
I'll let you know.

Here's what's on my easel right now.
I know I should finish up the "crab" painting, but I wanted to work on something new.
This is being done from a photo in the Wetcanvas image library.
A group of kids playing in the sprinklers or a fire hydrant.
It's oil on a 16X20" canvas.

Step 2.
Worked on it for about an hour this AM.


This is Step 1.
I started it yesterday evening, and spent maybe 2 hours blocking it in.
Trying to find the basic proportions and shapes.



Ok, so here's what I did for last week's WDE event on WetCanvas.com.
It's 12X12" acrylic on Masonite.
We were supposed to post what we had done after 2 hours, but I was having such fun that I forgot to take a photo until it was done. I've probably got like 3-3 1/2 hours into this one.

Ok, I'm trying to be better with keeping this blog more or less current.
So, here's a couple of paintings that I did this week.
They were both done for the WDE (weekly drawing event) at Wetcanvas.com.
The first is 12X12" oil on Masonite.
I really doing images like this one.
There are a lot of things going on, and lots of visual interest.
It was done in two sittings, on Tuesday afternoon (3/10/09).
All told, I've got just over 2 hours invested in this one



The second one is 12X12" acrylic on Masonite.I know; it looks kind of "cartoon-ish", or like an illustration for a childrens book.
What can I say? At least I quit painting on cardboard any more!.
It's another WDE painting, completed on Monday afternoon.
This one was done in just 2 hours time.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot this one. This one is still sitting on my easel. I havent worked on it all week. This is my biggest piece yet at 24X32". I know it'll get finished eventually, but I find it hard to maintain my enthusiasm for several days. I'm rather impatient, and I like to complete a painting in one or two sittings. I will finish it up though, 'cause I really like the color and texture.

Wow.
It's hard to believe it's already March!
I'm afraid that I've been neglecting this blog again.
Sorry, but real life gets in the way of art sometimes.
Here's a couple of things I've done lately.....

First, a couple of quick ones that I did for the Weekly Drawing Event (WDE) on Wetcanvas.com.
We're only allowed two hours to work on each one, so be nice.

This one (the boat) is 5X7" oil on a cheap canvas board.

Next is a 6X6" oil on Masonite called Close Shave (also a WDE piece).

And here's a Pineapple that I did just for fun.
I just really needed to paint something (anything!).
It's 12X12" oil on Masonite.
I didn't spend a lot of time working on it, but I'm pretty happy with this one.

And finally, here's a preview of what's coming up next.
I started this one yesterday (3/1/09).
It's my biggest painting yet (24X32"), and so far I'm having a blast with it.
I know it doesn't look so great at this point, but if it comes out like I envision, it'll be a real 'looker'.
Hopefully I can keep from overworking it.
I want to keep it bold and loose with bold colors and strong contrast.

I'm sure I have other paintings that I should post here, but that's going to have to be all for tonight.

It's late, and I've got to get to bed.

G'night everyone.

Here's one that I just finished painting last night.
It's from a photo that I took while walking around "downtown" Clayton, NC.
This one's 24X24" acrylic on MDF board.
I almost didn't finish this one, but now I'm glad that I did.
Just need to apply a coat of varnish, and put it in a frame.