Eurythmy with Geese

Eurythmy by Ferdinand Hodler

My version   Eurythmy with Geese


I don't know why, but this painting by Ferdinand Hodler has always appealed to me.  He was a late 19th c. - early 20th c. Swiss painter.  I believe he was presenting his interpretation of a therapeutic movement, called eurythmy,  that arose in the early 20th c.  I think it started as a type of expressive dance, and has evolved from there to include even the physical movements of painting as a therapy.  It is still utilized in performance art/dance, education, and movement therapy. But the geese just use it to get around!
After the last post, I worked on their feathers, and did another w/w application of blue around their feet, this time using indanthrone blue, to darken and subdue.

Since It's Windy Enough to Blow Me Right Out of the Saddle ...

Two foreground geese masked.

Start w/w washes.

More washes, and loose shadows.
With background geese, I tried lifting while wash was wet. It worked quite well.

Mask off.

Starting on their heads,  necks and feet.

More detail painting on heads and feathers.

More detail to heads.  And I added some more colorful and intense shadows directly under their bodies, and on their backsides.
OK, Jane and Pat, I REALLY like this one! Even though I am very critical of my work, I am thrilled with how the geese turned out. There is still a bit of painting to be done on their bodies and on the feathers, and some shadowing to go on their feet, but essentially it is all here.
As ever and always, all comments and questions are MOST welcome!!!

Reinstatement of the "B" Word ... or ...I'm Back for More

I am here. I really like this background better - much more depth and interest.

I did a trial run to see how the head would look with this background, using the "Buddy 5.0" version!
MUCH better!!! 

I Am NOT Mentioning the "B" Word ... but the Geese Are Coming Nicely

I left us here ...

Intensified the streaky background ...

Removed the masking ...

And am starting the geese.


The vertical streaks of color seem to compliment the long necks of the geese; it's  interesting without being overwhelming. The geese are fun to work on - they've almost started to develop personalities for me [OR maybe I've been looking at them too long  :) ]
I'll have to leave them for 2 days - long hours over a hot mouth [dental office work] I had a call out of the blue yesterday, asking if I could work today in another office. Knowing the dentist and her somewhat difficult personality, their hygienist probably quit, but I shouldn't think negatively. It's a job, and money to pay for my vices -  horses and painting.
By the way, Bruno has been a superstar lately, listening so well and performing so beautifully. I am thrilled with him!  :)  :)  :) 

Black on Grey on White: Did the Internet Kill the Photography Star? by Linda Shantz

Black on Grey on White: Did the Internet Kill the Photography Star? by Linda Shantz

And Now a Word from Our Sponsor ... Chinchillin

These are the chins, and they are "chinchillin'"

OK, bad joke, but it's late, and I'm tired.

That is Fat Bastard on the left, with Baby snuggled on the right.

The geese of Chu Lin are waddling on ...

And I am going for Buddy the VII.
This was the one on which I was working, but somehow it was looking too smooth, too even, not "real".

I decided a different format would bring more focus to his left eye.
Also, more texture in the background was an improvement.  

So here I am, on B VII ...


As ever and always, your comments are most welcome!

I Can't Believe I've Been Working on a Sketch of Geese for the Last Two Hours

All evening, I have been playing with composition, format, and then refining the sketch. I think this will do. It will probably be about 9 x 14 inches when finished. I'm keen to start as I have some interesting ideas I'd like to try for the background.
I also spent 2 hours in the rain this afternoon, removing the old electric wire from His Highness's paddock, then trimming any interfering branches, and finally re-wiring the entire area. It seems to be working, as His Nibs was making his dragon-breathing sounds when I went out to feed him dinner. I don't like electric fencing, but I like even less the damage horses can do if left to their own devices.
That's it for tonight. I'm working in the office tomorrow, and quite looking forward to the change.