Yesterday, I decided to take a risk and increase the contrast of the foreground by using a chrome oxide green. It still felt a little off. As I allowed my eye to wander across and over the canvas, I felt the problem was the free-floating horizon line... it needed to blend in more and become … Continue reading Isolation Landscape – Repainted on Commission – Blending and Colours
Isolation Landscape – Repainted on Commission – Initial Horizon
I've been staring at this for over a week now and trying to imagine a grassy horizon line... hoping it would cut the page and add tension between the foreground and sky. It feels wrong or in complete at this point... just a random line that floats in space without attachment to either the foreground … Continue reading Isolation Landscape – Repainted on Commission – Initial Horizon
Isolation Landscape – Repainted on Commission – Of Course! It’s Yellow!
Yesterday we discussed the crossroads one might face when painting... initial colours don't always work best for the composition, for the expression. I had in mind that there was a need for yellow and that need was expressed clearly by my nephew Mat, for whom I'm painting this. I also mentioned that I was still … Continue reading Isolation Landscape – Repainted on Commission – Of Course! It’s Yellow!
Isolation Landscape – Repainted by commission – My first dilemma…
Yesterday's post set up the serenity journey I'm on for my nephew, Mat... I found my tension colours to indicate some if the struggles and triumphs, but as in all journeys... there are things that must change for it to continue... we sometimes need to redirect... In this case, I have two crossroads to choose. … Continue reading Isolation Landscape – Repainted by commission – My first dilemma…
Isolation Landscape – Repainted by commission – First Steps…
My nephew, Mat, has been asking me for some artwork and we hadn't had time to sit and discuss what he wanted until a few weeks ago. I started by asking him some basic questions: "what styles, colours, and moods do you like?" He said abstract for style, greens for colours, but couldn't quite verbalize … Continue reading Isolation Landscape – Repainted by commission – First Steps…
Defining beneficial inconsistencies in pursuit of art for the masses
The history and legacy of the New Deal arts program is intertwined with the Mexican muralist movement. Its role in the evolution of public art helped define the Americana voice and opened the possibility for an ever-evolving American art scene. The practice of painting murals was present in the USA before FDRs New Deal. The … Continue reading Defining beneficial inconsistencies in pursuit of art for the masses
The Bathers – Momentary Creative Block Caused by Distractions
I've been wrapping up academic papers and struggling to stay motivated to do them. Usually, painting is my distraction from the papers, but these particular art history essays are really not too interesting to me. I added a few little touches to the painting since the last update... mainly shadows. I feel what's left is … Continue reading The Bathers – Momentary Creative Block Caused by Distractions
Does Approaching an Abstract Require Emotional Nakedness?
For those who don't know, one of my recent art practices has been to keep a small canvas hanging near whatever I'm painting and to apply any extra paint onto it from my pallet... I became disgusted with how much paint I was wasting. Because I've been having so much fun doing faces, that is … Continue reading Does Approaching an Abstract Require Emotional Nakedness?
The Bathers – The colours are starting to sing
I think I found the music needed to make this work... Hothouse Flowers on Spotify... I forgot how much I loved the live recording style they had... a lot like The Doors. As mentioned yesterday (I think), I decided on using titanium white as a base to add the girl's bathing suit. Then I just … Continue reading The Bathers – The colours are starting to sing
The Bathers – A Few Steps in This Direction, Maybe….
I had a few minutes before supper (to procrastinate from doing my research paper) and wanted to get the white out of this composition. I felt it was blocking some crucial decision I needed to make... I filled in some unbleached titanium as an undertone for the skin and started to see a little more … Continue reading The Bathers – A Few Steps in This Direction, Maybe….
The New Renaissance Mindset 