I finished the small study at the top of this photo this morning. Keith in Profile is on a 20″ x 24″ canvas board. I sometimes use canvas board for studies and sketches. Keith in Profile has been in-hand for awhile but today’s session was the fourth or fifth; fast for me. I put a fast-drying…
My wife and youngest son are visiting the Jersey Shore and I miss them, so yesterday I took up Millie Talking to Her Friends. The Millie in the painting is my wife’s grandmother. Millie has been in-hand for some time but I’ve had just 3-4 sessions with it. After working on Millie and several other…
The Girl in the Lavender Dress, another painting in the Playhouse Square series, is nearly finished and today’s was only the sixth session, which is fast for me. You can see in the right background two canvases that I recently prepared. Both are 36″ x 48,” which is the same size as Girl in the Lavender…
I used RGH’s extra-fine flake white and viridian green in today’s sessions. RGH sells both paints in jars, which I don’t like. But both jars have remained fresh. I’ve had the viridian for some time and it’s still fresh. The pile of paint on the paper palette is a mixture of viridian and blue-gray. I used it…
Good day after a bad day. I was so excited to get into the studio yesterday, I was mixing my medium at 5:30 AM. I make my medium fresh every day. It’s very drying and if I prepare it beforehand, it’s too firm. But I do prepare one of the ingredients in advance–the varnish. I…
After spending the morning drawing, I fully intended to finish Euclid Avenue #1, which I wrote about in the previous Studio journal post, and you can see it in the background of this photo. Instead, I worked on Jane and Keith Aboard the Betty Jane. Both paintings are 48″ x 60.” I plan to finish Euclid…
I worked on these two paintings today before my daughter and I went to the marina to work on The Betty Jane. The left-hand painting, The Delegate, is sailing along, to use a nautical allusion. Two days ago, I lightly varnished it with my special varnish. Now, the surface is really sweet and the colors no longer…
The unfinished Women in Sandals is part of the Playhouse Square series. Women in Sandals is 44″ x 60.” Here is a painting tip: If you are struggling to get light in a painting, strengthen the darks. You might be surprised at how making the darks darker makes muddy lights shine brightly.