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!