Friday, November 30, 2012

November 30 - 3 Hours

Friday - Feeling the pressure!!!  First application is due in 17 days.  I need 3 more finished pieces before then.  And all the other supporting materials too.  No use stressing, right?  #yeahright

Yes, I just hash-tagged in my art blog...uhoh

Soundtrack - Aimee Mann.  Lots of Aimee Mann.

Piece worked on - Ahmad

3 hours really flew in the studio today.  I really am surprised that much time went by.  WHICH MEANS it was a good productive night and things went well.  He's coming along quite nicely!


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

November 28 - 1.5 Hours

Soundtrack - Local Natives (Gorilla Manor), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Fantasia on a Theme - 15 minute songs are awesome)

Piece worked on - Ahmad

I am having so much fun with this one - sometimes I forget how much I love to paint.  Tonight, I remembered.

Still sketching...

Monday, November 26, 2012

November 26 - 3 Hours

Soundtrack - Joshua James (From the Top of Willamette Mountain), Alela Diane (To Be Still), Crystal Castles (III)

Piece(s) worked on - Laurie.  I put the finishing touches on this piece today - mostly hair work.  I'm really pleased with how soft it all looks and how mysterious her expression is.  12/20 - it really does feel amazing to cross another name off my list.
Glare is inevitable at this stage - but the colors are close to true.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

November 25 - 4 Hours

Well look who has been doing a rubbish job of updating the blog?  This does NOT mean I haven't been painting...  The holiday weekend helped me get a few more hours in this weekend and I'm pleased to say that I have made some progress (albeit, not enough, but progress is progress, eh?).

Soundtrack - Ella Fitzgerald (Ella: Love Songs), Father John Misty (Fear Fun), Fiest (Let it Die), LCD Soundsystem (This is Happening)

Piece(s) worked on - Laurie; Ahmad

First, here's a picture of Luke's portrait (finished).  The glare is very annoying in the photo, but, alas, no new camera has been purchased, so glare will have to do for now.
Luke (finished)
I've been working on the portrait of Laurie for so many months...reworking, even restarting completely.  The frustrating/rewarding relationship of painting has truly manifested itself in this piece.  When Laurie was posing, she chose accessories and clothing from her incredible collection.  The necklace, crochet sweater and fur stole added important and challenging aspects to this portrait - leading to more time and failed attempts to truly depict them as intended.  I'm very happy with how those details have turned out.  Now to complete her amazing mane of hair...
Laurie - almost done!
My favorite bit in detail
I rarely post photos when the paintings are this rough, but I'm excited to try a more Francis Bacon inspired background for Ahmad's existential portrait.  Palette knifing and outlining.  Yes.
Ahmad - 2nd layer


Sunday, November 11, 2012

November 11 - 3.5 Hours

Soundtrack - Elliott Smith (Figure 8), The National (High Violet), Turin Brakes (Ether Song)

***can you tell it was a rainy day?

Piece(s) worked on - Luke.  I'm pretty much done - just a few shadowy details left.  And then calling it done.  11/20.

Apologies for the reflection-wet paint will do that.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

November 8 - 3 Hours

Thursday - Today marks my half way point.  I officially have 10 pieces done and feel so good about it.  Yes, I'm still behind schedule, but - YES - 1/2 way there (livin on a prayer?).

Soundtrack - Sharon Van Etten (Epic), Washed Out (Within and Without), Woods (Bend Beyond)

Piece(s) worked on - Nik; Laurie; Luke.  I finally finished Nik.  The paint is too wet for a decent photo, but I'll post one soon.  I got more background work done on Laurie.  And started Luke.  Luke couldn't decide on a specific place that he identifies with, so he went with : everywhere.  So here's Luke in front of a green screen. 
a start
This was seriously the most fun I've had painting in a really long time.  There may be something to this loose and chunky style.  Regardless, for a first layer, I'm incredibly happy with it.
First layer done!
The wall of finished pieces is growing...Nik, in the middle, is finally done!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

November 7 - 2.5 Hours

Wednesday - Things are getting crazy stressful.  And when I say things, I mean life.  To apply to the schools I want to ... I need 20 pieces done by the end of the year.  I'm almost at 10.  It's November.  So I went to meditation tonight.  Thank you, Common Ground, for being right nextdoor to my studio.

Soundtrack - Frank Ocean - (channel ORANGE), P.O.S (We Don't Even Live Here)

Piece(s) worked on - Nik.  SO. CLOSE. TO. FINISHED.  Of course I had to re-do everything else since the face had to be re-done.  Yes, his hair has maroon color in it right now; it's all a part of the plan.

Look whose eyes are the right distance apart now!!!

November 6 - 3 Hours

Election Day - OBAMA.  Marriage & Voter ID discrimination amendments defeated.  

Soundtrack - 89.3 The Current.  Listening to great music AND political updates.

Piece(s) worked on - Nik.  Sometimes I re-do paintings.  I realized the face just wasn't right.  I loved the expression, but the proportions STILL weren't there.  (Math never was my best subject...)  I started correcting his face a while ago.  Here's the orig:

Eyes way too close together 

And here it is with the right side re-done:




Sunday, November 4, 2012

November 2 & 4 - 7 Hours

Sunday - Besides the fact that I'm now 3 paintings behind schedule Things are moving along quite well.  I'm getting that all too familiar nothing-is-going-according-to-plan feeling which manifests in ADD.  Which means, I'm starting multiple paintings without finishing one.  At least I'm working, right?  Right.

Soundtrack - Jens Lekman (I Know What Love Isn't), Florence & The Machine (Lungs), Neko Case (Blacklisted; Middle Cyclone), Chromatics (Kill for Love), The Raconteurs (Broken Boy Soldier)

On Friday (in progress)
Piece(s) worked on - Sydnee; Luke; Sam; Ahmad

Sydnee is finished!  As her place was Lake of the Isles during a run, I needed the portrait to convey the sense of motion.  This gal is always on the move as well, so keeping that in mind, I needed her to be literally moving on the canvas. Easier said than done.  I'm very happy with the composition and blur-like look of her body.  This is a step in the right direction for me stylistically, and I hope to continue to hone this technique.  For now, it is done.  Goodnight.
Finished (for now)

The colors are truer in this close-up.  I really need a new camera.