ALL FINISHED

So here it is, titled "Creation" and signed. I have been meaning to up date all summer, but have been busy. There are other paintings to post, but they will have to wait. If you are new to the blog this is a painting that I have covered step by step so you might want to scroll down and view it from it's conception. It's been fun - hope everyone enjoys it.

it's all in the details

Light reflecting off the hand holding the 'painting' even some reflections on the staples and texture on the painted 'canvas edge' are added. Then the fence posts addressed, by begining to define them with shadows on the edges of the posts. rocks and other sand detail is painted in.
The potters hands are detailed and more texture is given to the surrounding sand. Each tine a layer of paint is added the depth is built up with the combination of tone and tint.
Now for the lighthouse and the hand holding it. While I wanted the hans doing the creating to look more ghostly, when comparing them to the one holding the painting, I wanted to add some warmth. The house itself needed to be defined by adding shadow under roof and porch. The tower gets darker edges blended in to create a round look.

adding details

The rest of the painting is done! I know it took longer than thought, but I have been crazy busy and not feeling my best. So with out more excuses - These may look the same but now it's all in the details. The top shows some color added to the hands added depth by putting down some darker shadows. More details in the water and sand and overall touches of tone to create shadow.
In the bottom I detailed the boats, paintbrush and the lighthouse before placing highlights on the hands. I know what your thinking, I shadowed them only to lighten them up? - well, yes. This is what creates depth and interest.

Another long time out

I have painted some more steps, but have had the winter blahs, so I haven't posted. Now that the hint of spring is in the air I am sure I will get back on track. So bear with me and I will post a couple of new shots soon!

next step

Just a little holiday break in the action - and here is the next step in the 'back painting'. Now that all the canvas is covered in paint I will begin the real painting. I know that most people would say I had already, and I do put more detail in the under painting than I advise my students to. This is when I consider depth, form, and lighting.

more under painting

I tried to remember to take photos after each painting session. There is very little bare canvas left at this point, so I have begun some of the over painting as I fill in the under painting.

under painting

Now it's time for the under painting. This is to lay down blocks of color which will create depth when the actual painting is done. When I teach beginners to paint the under painting is usually just one tone at a time, but I generally put in some of the detail in the under tone as well. When the whole painting is complete none of the underpainting will be left without a coat of paint applied on top. Even though acrylic is opaque the under painting will effect the final result, unless of course you make an error, then you can add enough layers to over come the issue. - oh, by the way - this is a fair sized canvas, 18x24.

Sketch on canvas

So after many sketches on paper, I usually use pencil to start and then black marker to finalize the lines, it's time to transfer these to the canvas. Using a lamp behind the canvas and placing the individual sketches on the underside of the canvas, so the lines show through to the top, helps get the correct position and size. Once I have the lightly sketched pencil lines just as I want them, I again use marker so I can see the lines through the first stages of painting.

Composing a painting

So OK here it is :
Like I said I had some 'painter's block' and have not finished a painting all fall. Many of the concepts I had just did not pan out, so I have been thinking about the act of composing, rather than the actual composition. When I have a block I often look through magazines, books, old calenders, and my own photos in hopes they spark an inspiration.
Keeping in mind that I was thinking of composing in a very physical way, I decided to compose a painting about composing. A painting of creation - the photos show my inspiration pictures, hands creating and some sea landscapes. I liked the weather beaten fence in one and the color of the waves in the other, I will improvise a sky, not having found one I liked.
Next comes hours of sketching on paper to get things right. I needed to use my own hands for some poses. More pictures to come as I transfer the ideas to canvas :)

Mother

This face was a quick inspiration. An idea that came to me after reading about an art contest. I took the envrionmental theme of mother earth quite literal. It is a 12x16 acrylic set temporarily in a mat. I had plans for a frame of planets, and made some out of clay, but they did not compliment the painting so were used else where.

I'm happy that people would like to see a work in progress, but sad there are so few who voted, if your new there is still time :)

Reflections of Dusk

This 16x20 acrylic straight out of my imagination was compleated a few weeks ago. More faces in things I suppose, perhaps a tad more obvious than I intended at first. I like it and I hope you will too :)

Sea

This 11x14 landscape was an instructional painting I did with a class. More often than not I don't finish or paint over what I have done with a class, having often over worked in areas where students needed further demonstration. I like this one fine, so it stands. Now that my summer teaching is over I hope to not only get a few things to share painted, but also take some photos of the things I have that I would like to share. Thanks for visiting!

update

No new pictures for today - I'll work on having some soon. If you like supporting libraries and would like to own the little flowers in the Celtic knot, take a ride to the East Longmeadow library and check out their fund raiser, I donated it last week. Have a good day!

Flower Oval In Celticknot

This little 8x10 framed acrylic was admitedly done more for the knot work than the flowers. Sometimes I just need to design a knot and the flowers were an after thought. If your creative you should try it sometime, it's much more challenging than it appears :) (sold)

Cabin With Poppies

Framed 8x10 acrylic of a lovely little cabin inspired by a photo. I liked the play of shadow which detailed the timbers of the structure and with all the cold weather we have been having I just wanted to paint some flowers. (donated)

Ribbit Reflections / Squirrel's Eye View

Two in one week end! I had a bit of a cold and decided to spend the week end in my toasty warm studio. Apparently my creativity did not suffer as a result of my not feeling well, because I was able to paint both of these. Of course they are both small, 8x11 each. These unframed acrylics were both inspired from a series of photos in some nature books.

Catalpa Tree In Kentucky

My good friend Jane grew up in Kentucky, I painted this 16x20 acrylic from a photo her brother took. The play of light was great in the photo and I tried to capture that and the many textures. (sold)

Sunny Kitchen Window

This 11x14 acrylic was inspired by a project I often give my students which I call 'out the window'. The only thing missing is floor space. I try to get them to draw rooms with floors and walls so that they can learn to add depth, including a window forces even more depth. Of course I chose a subject with loads of light and shadow! (sold)

Tree Shadows

Another play of shadows! I can't resist a good shadow, this one was seen in a book, I think it was about redecorating. It's a 12x16 acrylic, unframed.

David's Brook

This 16x20 unframed acrylic was painted from a photo taken by a friend. I was really taken by the rippling water and the way the light played on it. Hard to tell what season it is could be spring with promise of growth in those trees and scrubby grass, or maybe it's a warm autumn day and things are still and getting ready for winter's rest. (sold)