Two Cute Bums Are Done and Voodoo Is Looking Suitably Voodoo-ish ...

I finally finished this painting. Now it's time to get a cradled frame, mount it and varnish. It will be on display in May, at the art center where I teach.

Slowly moving on with the horse portrait, alternating between wet-in-wet and dry brush applications of black.

Something was niggling at me about his eye. I took a close look this morning, and realized I'd left masking fluid on it. It is now gone, and I have glazed over the entire eye with quin. burnt orange, and it looks much warmer. Still pondering what exactly to do with the background ...

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Well ... So Far, I Like the Drawing Better ...

Love this. Maybe I'll give up painting??? 

More color on the jeans and walls ...

 ... and still more ...

For some reason, the photos are coming out quite light. But I think I am almost done with Scott, and starting Bruno. I still feel somewhat intimidated when painting horses, so left him for last. The painting technique is good, but I am not fond of the composition. I think I'll have to do some subtle spattering in the open area of the doorway - it looks much too blah. And of course ... darker ... DARKER ... DARKER!!! Time to head out to the barn, play with the Big Guy, let off some steam. :)

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It's a Beautiful Morning ...

I just had to get these photos just now, looking past the barn to the field and park beyond.

These two images are about the same stage, just different lighting/times of day when the photos were taken. I have most of the local color down. Now it's a matter of finishing the details, and taking a good, long look to see how dark I would like to take the background, and integrating the foreground with the background.
I have been doing double duty with animals, helping a neighbor, while she is away, with her two horses, two dogs and cat. So I haven't had as much time to paint, but it's coming along in the right direction.

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Asking Myself "Why" ... Why Do I Tackle Such Complicated Subjects??? Iris Update

Since the past post, I have tweaked the foliage, added a w/w wash of quin. violet to the fall, and started working on the teeny, tiny shadows on the uprights. Right about now, when I am cross-eyed from trying to paint detail, I ask myself WHY I choose complicated subjects. But ... here it is, almost done ...

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Addendum to the Knight ...

Somehow I managed to do a fair bit today - must be because I didn't feel the need to have a huge nap after my session with Bruno today. Here, I have darkened the entire background, and given it a rougher look ...

... and have  done some work on the armor. It needs to look more battered, and I may darken the entire knight as well.
Boy, do I need something light and fluffy to paint - getting somewhat morbid here.

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Rio Redux

A couple of nights ago, I took this painting, and gave it a shower and sponge bath. There was still too much color there after its bath, so I flipped the paper over, and re-sketched the image onto the back, and started over. There was just not enough unity of color. The above is an aureolin sky dropping down into a thin orange for the trees and shacks on the hill-side.

Then a blue mixture - indanthrone, aureolin and alizarin crimson for the shadowed area.

I've added some detail in the shadows [needs more], and started the hill-side and the boys playing soccer below. Most of my past paintings have been about technique, trying to re-create beauty. This one is much more a "story", and my reaction to the story. I may have to write a "Saturday Soap-box" piece ... or several. I don't believe most of us in the big
economic powers fully appreciate the pathetic condition of the rest of the world. I realized it was bad, but not this bad ...  but I digress ...

I also decided the rose did indeed need some further work. I  did several thin glazes , using quin. sienna on the upper petals. And once again, it looks much better in real life.

That's it for now. I don't feel like going into a foam-at-the-mouth rant right now ... just feel like painting. I also have another goose painting started, but not much to show yet.

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Some Work on the Latest Rose before I Go Out to PLay Dominatrix with Bruno ...

I left off here ...

I have gradually been adding aureolin and quin. sienna, and a touch of pink to the lower petals ...

... and then quin. sienna and aureolin to the top petals.

Close-up of flower.

I have to leave this for a few days. I'm starting to wonder if I like it or not - not a good sign.  Time to work on the Rio painting, and maybe another one of some geese ...
That's it for the rose for now. Off to play dominatrix with Bruno.
:(

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And YES ... in case you're wondering, all these paintings are available.

Making Fair Headway with My Feathered Friends ...

I spent most of my painting time today on the background.  My intention is to create something of a nebulous, mysterious foil for the Graces. 

 ... and still more scrumbling. I used a dark violet consisting of quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone. 

This is where I am right now. I have gone back to the geese -  adding more color, detail and shadow.
... to be continued ...

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Roxie Is Off and Running ... but ... She May Be Walking Soon ...

Another drawing/pose I did

Background was painted w/w with aureolin and quin. burnt orange

Then I got into some scrumbling with the orange, and mixtures of quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone.
I used all those same colors for her as well.

I added more shadowing with a dark brown mixture applied thinly, and  I will continue that way till I achieve the proper depth.

When I started this portrait, I thought it would hum along smoothly. But I am finding that getting the correct colors for shadows is a bit difficult. Still, I hope to finish this week, and that Roxie's mom likes it. She is more of a cool/blue type of person. I'm the one who likes warm. But I think the dog demanded warm colors, so ...

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Boots Are Looking GOOD

I have started working on some of the dark detailing, to give me an idea of values for mid- and light-tones for the rest of the painting. 

To get the old scruffy boot look, I have used a combination of w/w and scrumbling.  I think it's coming out quite well. I may like doing still-lie as much as animals and florals!


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