Are We There Yet???

This is pretty much how the color comes through. I was lucky to have sunlight this morning to get a decent photo. I 've reached the stage where I am doing more intense scrutiny rather than painting. [That's one of the reasons I like to work on several at once.]  I think a touch of careful darkening on  the outside of the left eye and just above the curvature of the jaw ...  maybe a bit more work on the pillars ... intensifying the eyes??? And I think I'd better get another sketch on the board to paint!!!

As always, your comments are most welcome!

EEK!!! ... or a little walk down memory lane

These are a few attempted portraits of the son of a friend of mine, and their beloved dog. 

Making full use of a sheet of paper.

Several tries on a friend's cat.

I've been doing a bit of a much-needed clean-up - throwing out all I don't use or need. Yes, I am re-cycling all the paper! I thought you might find it amusing [I did] to see some of my old paintings from ten and more years ago. I notice, looking at them, I have kept to pretty much the same themes. Well, at least I am consistent. :)

As always, your comments are most appreciated!

I Think I'm in Love ... and it's not another horse

I left off here ...

I've lifted some of the color from the robe - it was too warm. And I have deepened the shadows on the left of his face with a w/w wash, and done a bit of detail work around the eyes..

More of a close-up. This is why I am in love. It is the serenity and  impression of quiet inner strength.

Working on the pillars - painting the shadows first.

Then a wash of quin. burnt orange with quin. violet. It looks like it will need more wood color, as well as more shadowing.

I am going to reluctantly put the monk aside for today, and head into Vancouver to deliver the dreaded bridge painting to John, and have a visit with the family.
While you are here, I invite you to visit Gallery at the Farm.

As always, your comments are most welcome. 

It's SO Weird ...

I've worked a bit on the face and robe. I may have gotten carried away with the warms in the robe - have to lift a bit. 

I'm working on subtle nuances of skin color - fascinated by the interplay of warm and cool hues.  The "weird"  is how this painting is almost emerging from the paper. It's another one that is painting itself!

As always, your comments are most welcome!

Just in Passing ...

Studio light

Outdoors, sunny day, in shade

I think I've found the best lighting for my work. The only problem is that is is not often sunny in Vancouver in the winter. C'est la vie! 

The Pilgrim's Progress [OK ... Bad Pun]

W/w varied-intensity wash of orange over the background

Some violet and blue

A road map of the head and upper torso, with warm and cool flesh colors

Intensifying flesh colors, and starting robe

It's a play on titles with John Bunyan's late 17th c. novel. I took a course in English lit. - loved it.  I waded through Milton's "Paradise Lost" and Spenser's "A Fairy Queen", among many others.
The monk seems to be coming along well. So far, all has been done wet-in-wet. The real fun will start when I start playing warm and cool colors off each other in the skin tones. Anyway, this is what I am up to this morning while waiting for the glaze of heavy frost to melt from the riding ring. Bruno does not have skates!!!

A Day Made for Painting - INSIDE

I think Missy is done. I'll put her aside for a bit, and see how I feel about her in a few days. I am still not 100% thrilled with the strength of the composition, but there is a nice diagonal flow, and a "v" there.

Value sketch for the monk.

I've done a varied w/w wash with quin. burnt orange. I recently realized I use a lot of this triad of colors - burnt orange, violet or pink and a blue. Wonder why? Years ago, I went to see a clairvoyant. She said I had a very strong orange aura. I thought maybe it had to do with all the carrots I feed my horses! :)

Anyway, as alway, your comments are most welcome!