I had another painting session with Graduation Day this morning, primarily on the pig-tailed girl. I spent a lot of time on her hands and the key chain she’s holding. I’m starting to like the pig tail. Most of the background is done in this painting–the sky, cars, buildings, and ground, although the right-hand mass…
I am preparing a bunch of canvases just now–six size 40″ x 50″, and six size 36″ x 48.” Typically, I apply 2-3 coats of acrylic gesso over 2 coats of GAC 100. I might drop the GAC. Although it’s easy enough to screw up a canvas early on (canvas quality can be poor and tear, stretchers can…
I got some painting time this Easter morning with Washington Square. The under-painting is finished except for the figures behind and to the right of the white-shirted foreground figure. I finally(!) like the background beyond the pool. Washington Square is 44″ x 60.” The composition is based on several photos I took last summer in Greenwich…
The under-painting for Woman in Purple Boots is finished. This means that everything has a layer of paint–darks, lights, and local colors. The last time I showed this in a ‘Studio Corner’ post it was still pretty raw. Woman in Purple Boots is an example of how I prefer to prepare painting surfaces. There is a…
I don’t think I’ve shown this painting–Sunday Parade–before. According to my studio journal, today’s painting session is the fifth. It was too raw. Still is, really. The underpainting isn’t finished; but it’s far enough along that you can get a sense of where it’s going. This design is put together from several photos of Manhattan.…
After several orders from RGH, I downgraded my rating to Quality: B (from A-). I modified my initial rating on my Oil Brand Reference but neglected to update the review. The reason for the downgrade is the cheap jars RGH uses for some of their colors. Their jars render the fast-drying colors, like the all-important lead white, useless because the colors dry too fast. I lost half of a 250 ml jar even after spraying the paint with water. I will not buy any more lead white from RGH until they use tubes for all colors and sizes.
I started a series of paintings early in the winter called Playhouse Square. Each painting in the series portrays the area around Cleveland’s Playhouse Square and the people going about their Square-related business. I am amassing photographs for the project; I already have several hundred. I’ve taken photos in all weather and all light conditions. I took…
I worked all day yesterday and today on The News. According to my studio journal, today’s painting session was the thirteenth. I’m almost finished. People who know me laugh whenever I say a painting is almost finished. Some paintings have been almost finished for months. But if the drawing is good and there are no…