In the studio 1/24/16
The light today, for once this winter, is good. I worked on these two paintings this morning. I finished (I think) the small (20″ x 24″), gray study. I wrote about this painting before. It is a study for a larger treatment. I finished the to-scale drawing on a sheet of paper then transferred it
I broke my palette knife
I broke my palette knife this morning, the one I’ve used everyday for 10 years. I was doing what I do every day–creating my usual assortment of mixtures to go with my tube colors–when my stalwart palette knife snapped. The worn handle is on the left in the photograph. The blade is next to it and still
In the studio 1/3/16
The first In the studio post of the new year. On the Square is part of my Playhouse Square series. There are 15 figures in the 48″ x 60″ painting (16 if you count a figure reflected in a window). I’ve spent most of the past two weeks working on this painting. I spent several (5!) days just on
Busy palette
I prepared today’s medium and took yesterday’s palette out of the butcher’s tray where I store it. (The rectangular palette is my workaday palette; I only use the traditional oval one to mix certain tones.) I use my workaday palette 2- or sometimes 3-days running before cleaning it. Even stored in the covered tray the colors
Synthetic brushes
I wrote about my antipathy toward synthetic brushes. This photo illustrates the point I made in the linked post. The four synthetic brushes on the left are old and misshapen. In my experience, synthetics quickly lose their shape and become good for little other than effects or glazes. The best thing about them, by far, is their cheap price. But this
In the studio 12/23/15
What better time to work on a summer-themed painting than in the middle of winter. Keith and Jane Aboard the Betty Jane is going slowly because I’m taking my time with the water. There is a lot of Lake Erie in this 48″ x 60″ painting. When it’s finished, the water on the right-side will be
About mastic-based mediums
Recently, I wrote about my experience with maroger–a mastic-based medium. Maroger was my standard medium for a period, although I haven’t used it in a number of years. I stopped using it because details are difficult and, because it is such a soft resin, paintings are prone to scratch or show other surface insults. My
In the studio 12/6/15
I spent most of my time recently working on new paintings that are still too raw to show. I am also working on a new cycle of pieces that are still in the drawing stage. I had to order a box of pencils. I also got some new sharpeners. I do not like the electric type.