In the studio 10/25/15
After drawing this morning, I worked on Picnic. In addition to the four main figures, there are 27 other figures, or parts of figures, in the background. I’m having fun with all those figures. I went back and forth several times about this painting. The central figure’s back to the viewer has the potential to take the painting in
In the studio 10/18/15
It took awhile for Parade to get going. The ground is nonabsorbent and I fought it during the first several sessions. I still don’t like it but it’s starting to cook with gas now. Another thing that is challenging is the scale of the figures. They’re at that in-between scale; too small for full treatment,
In the studio 9/28/15
The Girl in the Purple Boots is 40″ x 50.” I enjoy the size so much, I prepared 6 additional canvases of the same size. One is in the drawing stage and another is in the early painting stage. The Girl in the Purple Boots is composed from three photos taken in Manhattan. It’s not part of
In the studio 9/27/15
This small painting (20″ x 24″) is on a canvas board I prepared with traditional gesso (just whiting and glue). I like traditional gesso a lot. It’s smooth and slightly absorbent. Unfortunately, it’s too fragile for canvas and easily cracks. But it’s great on firm surfaces. Canvas board, while not as firm as wood, is firm
In the studio 9/20/15
Graduation Day is almost done. I teed it up today for the finish, but only shot par. I have to beat par–come on. Some things still bug me; the purple dress for one, and a couple of other things too. I like painting cars. There are two in Graduation Day. I am planning another painting that is
In the studio 9/13/15
I put 10 hours into Washington Square today. I planned to spend just a single hour on it before turning to other paintings. I have one I’m itching to get back to; I think I can finish in one long session. But Washington Square sucked me in. I didn’t even watch any of the NFL’s opening Sunday
In the studio 9/6/15
Main Street #1 getting there. I finished going through the photographs from our Chicago trip. Of the 200 photos, I put 40 in my kit–you know, the kit filled with photos for paintings. The weather in Chicago was sunny (hot) then overcast. It rained then the sun baked the sidewalks with 93 degree heat, unusual
In the studio 8/30/15
My kids are used to seeing themselves in paintings. I use them as models a lot, although less these days than previously. Painting children is challenging and can easily lead to kitsch. There are always topics that are ‘forbidden’ in ‘high art’ (a single sentence with two sets of scare-quotes–a record for me). Not long