Moving forward...

Here is the painting at the masking and background stage...

The masking is still in place and the background is mostly there.  I always add small touches to the background as the painting progresses but this gives me a pretty good base.

I've now begun painting in the barbed wire just because it seemed like a pretty safe place to get started.  I normally will work through one element at a time until the entire work is completed.

What's next?

I'll probably start working on the fence post so I can judge how light/dark the leaves should be to stand out sufficiently. But then, you never know!   

A Setback!

I was making some progress on the commissioned painting.  I had the image drawn on the watercolor paper and I'd masked out the subject areas and painted the background. I was pretty happy with the background as a matter of fact.

BUT...

When I removed the masking noticed that the masking fluid had left a stain.  Since I've had a painting ruined by just such a stain which darkened over time, I've decided to start over.  

Today I finished making a tracing of the final image and made 2 copies on tracing tissue...one of the entire image and one of just the areas that need to be masked out.  I've thrown out the bottle of masking fluid (obviously it doesn't have a great shelf life) and bought a new bottle.

Tomorrow I'll start again!

Moving forward...

I've now finished the pencil overlay for the painting and it's been transferred to the paper.

I apologize for the (poor) scan of the pencil drawing on the painting.  It's very difficult to get a really good image of the drawing since it has to be done very lightly on the paper. I had to enhance the scans and piece the sections together to get the whole image into one file.  As the painting progresses, I will be able to get better images (less white paper and more tone for the camera to record) and it will, hopefully, give you a better idea of the progress.

I'm using Arches Cold Press 300 lb paper so that I can put in a nice wash background on it without any buckling.  The surface of Arches watercolor paper works well when I have to mask out the "whitest" areas of the painting, in this case the antler and the fence post.  I may mask out all of the subject since I'm planning to do some "spatter and smear" texture on the background... similar to the background on "Antler", the large painting that the client originally cited as their favorite.

I think I'll handle the background more as a vignette on this painting though...more like the background on the sketch, instead of a full background.  It should give the painting a slightly lighter feel.

I'm now looking forward to starting to paint!

A new commission...

This is the beginning stage of a newly commission that I am working on.

The client was interested in purchasing a painting but the images that they were initially drawn to were a bit larger than they wanted. They gave me a list of their favorite pieces from my website and we began a discussion about the possibility of a commissioned piece.

They'd never been through the process before so I sent them a pdf file explaining commissions, what the process was and how they would be kept "in the loop"  We discussed size, budget and a number of preferences to be considered and a few days later they told me to go ahead and work up some sketches.

These were the first three sketches that I did.  

They requested a combination of some of the elements from the original sketches and a bit of barbed wire (from "Barbs & barbed wire") and I did a new sketch.  

I took the antler out with me and photographed it hanging on a barbed wire fence.  I actually took several photos, using an assortment of antlers that I have collected but this one had the best light and shadows to work with as well as just a better shape overall. 

I added the branches with the red berries to the image later by combining the original sketch and the photo in Photoshop.  (I really love that program for working out the little details.)

I'll go back to the original photo as a reference when I'm painting the final watercolor.  The contrast will have to be toned down on the post just a bit and I'll work from an actual clipping from the Pyrocanthus bush in our yard.

The client requested only one change to this sketch...they wanted the branches to have a more natural position on the far left. They felt that it appeared that the branch was clipped off and floating in the air (which it was!) so I changed it slightly to join it into the other branch.  The change was simple & the clients are happy.

Perfect!

"Broken Fortune" ...now available on eBay

"Broken Fortune"
Oil on Linen
10" x 8"
Unframed

Buy it on eBay

This is a simple little oil painting that I painted while tending a shop one day. It was a very quick little painting and I had to struggle not to get into my usual obsessive compulsive style.

We've started something...

Brigitte Woosley is a friend and previously we shared some studio space and now we're sharing some cyberspace!

We've just set up a new organization extolling the virtues of the cow in art. The group is called the American Society of Bovine Artists.

Right now we only have four members including ourselves but we're growing! After all, we're just a couple of days old. Check out the website and if you: are interested in paintings with cows; have painted cows; collect paintings of cows; own cows; dream about cows!?! you should become a member. It's only $10 and it's all fun. There is an artists' gallery and a page just for friends.

This is what I have up there now but I think I may have to do better....


By the way, I did the website for ASBA as well so if you're looking for website design.... contact me!

I'm a little bit sad...

I made a decision this month to give up my lovely studio.  I've been so busy at working on our "new home" that I haven't had any time to go to the studio and paint over the past two months. You can see what's been going on there if you go to "the trailer dailies" that I've been posting on my website.  I finally updated the pages on Wednesday night so it's now pretty complete.

That was only half of the reason, though, why I've decided to give it up...

With gas prices going up and the impending move to Canyon Lake, I decided that I will paint at home for a while. It's about 20 miles (one way) from our property so the round trip costs me dearly!

I'll still be painting again when the dust clears from the construction and I'm looking forward to it.  The longer I stay away from painting, the more I miss it.  I'm trying to see this as a "summer sabbatical" which will end soon! 

Since I haven't been painting much, I thought I'd put up a photo of the watercolor painting that was recently accepted in the 23rd Annual Conservatory Art Classic at the Bosque Conservatory in Clifton, TX. There were 159 works accepted from 859 entries. I've been told it's pretty difficult to get into this show so I'm thrilled to be chosen.  The show will be on exhibit from September 20 - 28.

 

"Tiny Pumpkins, No. 2"

14" x 11" 

Transparent Watercolor on Twinrocker Handmade Watercolor Paper

Also in September, I will be part of a three-artist invitational exhibit at the Ray Goldstein Gallery at the Dell Jewish Community Center  in Austin, TX.  I'm looking forward to this show since it will be the first time that I will have a showcase of my work in oils, acrylics AND watercolor. I'm grateful to the selection committee for inviting me and I'll post additional information when it's available.