Getting Back To Work

My latest trip to the gym felt a lot like my latest painting homework.  Where yesterday's kettle bell swings seemed to collect interest on previous fun had in Cabo, this study of Sorolla's Portrait of Taft had a way of exacting a late penalty of its own.  It's been an awesome whirlwind since Sugar Shack went up.  After a dog portrait, a Terry class, a couple weekends away, and a day's worth of laundry wrapped up, I felt the accumulation of time elapsed between head studies.   My focus was challenged.  Sorolla's seductive brushwork and masterful expressions continue to distract me from getting the big sculpt right.

I started off mentally chanting, "Less saturation in the reds, lighter darks, and less pressure on the brush."  At first I actually had a really nice subtle warm to cool change down the red length of his right cheek.  But in the end, with the hour timer going off (and off and off, for at least an additional 20 min of overtime), I carelessly picked up an unintentional color from my palate darkening and saturating it too far again!  I did try to keep the big sculpt in mind when I tackled his mustache, darkening and cooling it more in the shadow side, though it still seems flat to me.  

I really struggled with his brow; there was such a significant plane change under that frontal plane above the brow ridge.  I never quite figured out how best to handle the left side of his forehead either, especially with it right up against reflected light in the shadow.  The stroke describing the smile line off his right nostril seems too dark and too brown, while the stroke bellow and to the left side of his lip seems too light.  At least it's flat, and I am wondering if it is the value that is to blame.  Despite feeling out of shape, this 'Portrait of Mr. Taft' was a really fun painting to explore.  I love the expression on his face!  Good one Sorolla.   

Since the last post, it hasn't all been travel adventure!

A very thoughtful and dear friend commissioned a portrait of their dog Bo.  With his tail wagging like an airplane prop, this mature Basset Hound-Rhodesian Ridgeback is irresistible.  Of course he needs a portrait!

'Bo'

8x8" Oil on Panel

My work will be up at Sugar Shack for a couple more weeks if you're near the grid.

Now, lets beef this post up with a few more dog portraits!

'Roxanne's Westies'

9x12" Oil on Panel

'Atticus'

8x8" Oil on Panel

"Abby"

8x8" Oil On Panel

Sugar Shack Show

The Sugar Shack Show is up and the results from my latest homework are in!

First the results show...

Terry had some great notes on my Vicente study, and ya'll might notice there are some trends.  Points were awarded for a tighter color harmony although I need to pull back on the reds.  I tend to loose the value structure when I push saturation.  Sounds familiar right?  Terry explains the difference between a 'tonalist' process (including Sorolla, the artist I've been referencing), and a 'colorist' process.  "In a tonal approach, you are increasing saturation to get a target color, where as in a colorist (impressionist) approach, you're graying down a saturated color to get the target color."  For these studies, I need to start with a muted theme color and approach it like a monochromatic painting, with subtler hue and temperature changes.  In this way, I keep color theme in check so that the 'big sculpt' is effective, saving the few color accents towards the end.  The beard was also a fail on the ‘sculpt’ as I lost the shape of the muzzle due to poor value organization.  I am going to need more reps.  I've heard it takes ten thousand hours to become an expert.  

This could be the beginning of a long running blog.  

He liked the shoe!  While he thought the colors were nice and clean, and the values well organized, he suggested that the toned yellow canvas showing through in the background was unnecessary in this particular case.  Leaving canvas exposed is not an error per se, but as it didn't 'support the concept' this time, I opaqued over it.   Yeah, I got that bit of advice after the canvas-exposing overdose on the following painting, "Warming Up". 

Also trending, "Less pressure on the brush".

 The Sugar Shack Show!

Several armfuls of paintings hit a very cute Midtown Boutique on Friday!

A sample of the latest~

'Fave Pump' 

8x8"

(post changes to background)

"Warming Up"

6x6"

"You Win, You Always Do"

9x12"

The cocktail ring, modeling in the staring contest versus the Nalgene bottle, is actually from their sister boutique Krazy Mary's.  I got a little sucked into the details on that last one. 

Now, back to my top-secret dog commission!