I am so excited! I started Terry's class in October, and it is awesome! That also means I am working fewer days at the dental office, and the better balance just feels good. I am so grateful to literally be IN class. The 'independent study'? Ya, I have basically failed. I love Terry's class, but it is only one morning a week, and I have ALOT to learn. So I have an idea: Watts Atelier.
Jeffrey Watts is an incredible artist in Encinitas, CA with an equally impressive art school offering several classes a day (also has online classes!). When he returned my call in person I flipped out, and decided it is time to REALLY do this.
In a couple months, this blog may really start cooking! In the mean time a Brewery Show, figure drawing class with Terry, and more master studies to come.
Self Crit
Sorolla Study #21, Clotilde Seated
Because the stroke is too red, her left jaw plane seems to turn to harshly. The reflected light just behind this seems too light... or, perhaps the outline behind that is too dark? The edges of the strokes are also too hard, so rather than the jaw rounding back it looks first like a harsh protrusion, and then sunken-in behind. Her left cheek has a much better turn posteriorly around the cheek bone. Overall, far too many of the edges are too hard or not mindfully applied. The strokes do not flow in and out of each other, rather, they look deconstructed.
It still lacks the big sculpt. I got caught up in what Sorolla's strokes look like versus what the form is doing and I didn't achieve a believable head. The forehead is flat and lacks an appreciable brow ridge. The plane of her nose appears too hard a turn from front to side. The bridge actually looks concave as if she had an old 'softball catching' injury; softer edges would have helped here. The white strokes under her cheeks, along her nostrils are too light in value, as is the white stroke at the corner of her mouth. From looking at this, I cannot tell where the light source comes from (big sculpt fail).
Eye balls: Her right is not as bad as her left. I still need to work on wrapping the lid around the ball, and forming a socket.
Paintings done in the spirit of my upcoming show at Track Seven Brewing Co. for one day only!
2nd Saturday, November 8th
noon-9pm
Growlette
10x10"
oil on canvas
I think I got a little seduced by little mongoose brushes when I got into the growlette's shadow shape. As a result, there are more busy stokes and volume of paint then were probably necessary. I see why Terry keeps us to bristle brushes in class. The background looked a bit dingier once this painting dried, and I am really hoping with good light and a little liquin it will brighten up a bit. I want to work on keeping the paint thinner longer allowing more canvas to exposed, in attempt to achieve better depth or atmosphere. And to free myself up for opportunities that get lost when I saturate the surface with too much paint too quickly.
Short Stack
6x6"
oil on canvas
I really like this one! It feels fresh because there are fewer passes of the brush, and I like the look of a bit of detailed rendering juxtaposed with some bigger brush strokes. The background gets a little busy around the bottle caps, those additional strokes may not have been necessary.
If you are in the neighborhood and have never been to Track 7, swing by November 8th! It has great craft beer, good energy, and will have my art in the back!
Dogs welcome too!
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