Sidetracked Day 3

I stopped after work today and picked up some larger brushes and some Payne's grey (which was missing from my palette). So I got some real paint down fast today! Funny how using the right tools makes the job sooooo much easier!

I love working big! It really pulls me into the work fast and makes me much looser.

This is drying really fast each day, (I don't have a/c so my apartment gets really warm) so I might be able to ship this after all. Especially, if I keep working this quickly.

I am considering outlining with a gold metallic paint since this really makes me think of my Imari china. Once I am back home and can look at my china, I will be able to more readily decide.

I can always fine tune it once I get back on the mainland.

Sidetracked Day 2

Finally got a chance to work on this one again. Unfortunately, since I have begun packing, I am left with a small brush! So what I got done today was relatively slow going.

Once I stepped back to take the picture, I was pleased with how bright and colorful it is. Not only is the composition appealing, but the colors too.

I am really happy with how it is going.

The Judge Day 8--reworked layout

here is the reworked to the grid painting...I will look at this for awhile (not too long because I am running out of time before my move) and decide if this will work out.

The Judge Day 7--reworked layout

I will not surrender! So today I sat with PS and reworked my compostion using the rules that Michelle Grant offered to me. Once I am satisfied, I will start painting over again.

The picture has lots of artifacts in it from the layers in PS, so just ignore those.

I hope that I am understandiing the motivations that she discussed. I made the foreground large, the background medium, and the middle ground small. I divided the area into the 1/3rds grid and moved important elements around to the intersections.

The Judge Day 7--Verdict

I asked an artist, whom I greatly admire, to help me figure out why this piece kept bothering me.

Michelle Grant ( http://michellegrant.ca Canadian--which I don't hold against her ;)...) showed me how the layout was weak, but then gave me two great planning tools that I can use not just to 'fix' this piece, but carry forward to future pieces.

the pictures here show my piece grided with the 1/3rds composition rule and how the key elements don't line up with any of the intersections. The second image shows my piece cropped so that the key elements hit right on the intersections.

In addition, when planning a piece Michelle states, :The motive involves the division of space beyond the 1/3 rules. You decide which part of the space is going to be largest, and then the smallest, and then one will be the middle size. Here is a grid to hopefully clarify this theory.COLUMN #1 BACKGROUND MIDDLE GROUND FOREGROUND COLUMN #2SMALLMEDIUMLARGEYou take an element from Column #1, starting with your "BACKGROUND" for instance. You then decide which size it will be by choosing one of the sizes from Column #2. The Background could be Small, Medium or Large, but for clarity sake, I'll say the Backgroung will be Small.Then you decide on your Middle Ground, with a choice of Medium or Large, and I will say the I want it to be Medium in size. That now leaves the Foreground to be Large in size in relation to the other areas of the painting. The easiest way to decide this is to write out the Six Elements on a piece of paper into the two columns and draw a line across from Column #1 to Column #2, and none of the Grounds will be the same in size..."

Which makes sense.....so anyway, I am not going to crop this piece down because eliminating the top and the right elements does not appeal to me. But I will re-do this idea and lay it down right before putting any paint on it.

The Judge Day 6--stoopid tree!

I think I am just going to take that damn tree out of there!

The Judge---Day 6

I did throw some paint at it last night and I think the reason that the palm shadows bother me is because they don't match the mountain shadow---doh!
So I will change the palm shadows, much easier!
Have to work more form and shadows into the plants under the cat, too.

I got home from work and fiddled with the image in PS to see if my thoughts were on the right track.

I darkened the mountain form shadow, added some of the barn red up into the palm tree tops, lightened the palm cast shadows (they still need to have the angle corrected I think), put some shadows and lights into foliage, and worked on some overall color spots on the cat.

The Judge---day 5 ---thinking

well, I moved on to another painting that has been sitting for awhile so that I could think about this one.I need to put some warm reflective lighting on the shadow side of the cat, it is too jarring the way it is.other than that, I am not sure what else to do right now.....model the cat some more....put in the fence (but that is a last thing)...

hmm hmm hmm

the middle ground is blah, need to make it look like ground and grass and sand

the palm shadows bother me a bit, but that may just be from the blandness of the ground

need to work on that tree some more, the branches are still not right

ugh....have I mentioned that I don't like doing landscapes? but! this piece is for me, it is a memory piece of my wonderful time here in Hawaii, so I will persevere!

Sidetracked

I am doing this one for myself. It is inspired by a watercolor by another artist. It will always remind me of Waimanalo, Hawaii.

I think I will hang it in my dining room when I get back to the mainland.

It is oil on gallery wrap linen 36 x 40 inches.

I wrote to the artist Lauren Johnson and asked for copyright permission to do this piece for myself. She very graciously agreed. I only hope that I can do justice to her fantastic original watercolor.

You can see her work at this link http://www.laurenjohnsonartist.com/Site/Welcome.html

See if you can find the piece that mine is working off of!

The Judge---day 5

I worked on this yesterday alittle but it was so hot that I couldn't stand it. Sweat was dripping off my face, I was sticking to the panel, so I gave up.

this morning I got up early and started on it.

When I first look at it I think, oh there isn't that much to do, but as I work I find more and more corrections to do.

But I have not started hating it yet, so that is a good thing!

thinking about the colors

I need to tone that barn down so I have been thinking about it and consulting my great little color mixing book, The Watercolor Painters Pocket Palette, by Moira Clinch.

I think that a glaze with yellow ochre will give it the temperature that I need. Then burnt umber glaze for the shadowy sections of the siding.

The palms are coming in nicely but the umbrella shaped tree (not sure what it is exactly...I will look it up in Google) is too one dimensional. I need some sky holes in it and more shadows. The branches need to go back away from the front plane of the tree too. everything is all on one plane.

The riding arena has a good start, and it looks just like it feels when you are out there: hot!

I noticed that subconsciously I have made the painting in two halves of bright light and subdued light. I will have to think about this development and decide if I need to change it or let it stay that way. I think since the painting is very horizontally banded, that my intuition took over and did that to balance it.

I will leave the cat really until last because otherwise it will distract me from the environment that shapes it/him/her.

I am also going to leave the fence along the long backside of the arena for last because I will put it in and then not disturb it.

So this is really how I work; lots and lots of thinking, some actual painting, more thinking,...

kind of boring, huh?

today's work on the judge

I am happy with what got done today. I am taking abreak and then going back to it.

I find that I work the whole panel at once with this piece. As opposed to the panel that I did for Le Cadeau du Cheval, I worked in sections.

I think that as I get more paint onto the surface that I will probably do it sectionally. Right now, I am trying to keep the whole united in temperature and color range.

Dropping in the first indications of shadows makes a big impact.

I am also happier with this cat's body shape than I had previously.

I have to flog myself to work on the foliage under the cat. It just is such a chore. I am happy with how the background is falling into place.

As always, this artwork is copyrighted to the artist only. NO COPYS.

noticing a bit of anatomy lately

Since I have been working harder on my riding than my painting, I will share that I have been noticing the anatomical connection of the horse's head to neck right behind the ears. It is very flat and square shaped when you sit in the saddle and look at it. The bridle sits into it quite nicely.
The other thing that I have noticed, and this is very different between my two horses, is the flexion of that area when they graze.
My gelding, the Grand Prix level horse, has tremendous flexability there. My mare not as much. This probably is also from the conformation of their necks. His is longer and he has a nice wide jaw for the throat to fit into. Her neck is shorter and thicker, not very pretty at all. But the dressage training will help that. I wonder if she will be willing to put up with the slight discomfort of giving more and more behind the jaw as we move up the levels. It was difficult for my gelding.
I digress.....what I noticed is how he has more flexion forward when he grazes and hers follows the topline of her neck more closely.
Both things will now be incorporated into my artwork.

Distracted from the Judge

bleah it has been so hot and still, I just could not sit by the window and paint. the last time I tried my arm kept sticking to things......my knee has been bothering me and it really hurts to sit or be otherthan horizontal for any length of time....I am getting ready to move again and that planning has distracted me.....I had to organize a dressage clinic.....I had to ride.....I am at a phase where I am afraid of "ruining" the painting because it is soooo darn precious.......END OF WHINING>>>

So the main thing is that I need to just lay some paint down. You would think that at this stage of my life that big fear block would have gone away. Nope, it doesn't. And it is a factor that seems to affect most artists that I know (well, some I only know from online comm, but all the same). The really successful artists are the ones who soldier through with the confident knowledge that they will produce good artwork no matter what.
My hero, Bob Clark, has a routine that he follows and it gets him down to work quickly and focused like a laser beam. You can see his work at www.robertclark.com
So heigh-ho, heigh-ho back to work I need to go!

oh, ps--this arts & crafts, craftsman style of painting is not written about much. I went to the bookstore and online to try and find source materials but in the end only found one book (magnificent, beautiful, $50, walk away-walk away) that was worth having. I will buy it after I am moved and settled. So now I am thinking; hmmmm maybe I should put a book together! Now there is an audacious idea! One for my retirement days I think!

modification of the Judge composition

Once I decided to use the arts & crafts technique, I had to analyze my composition with that in mind. So, since one of the reasons behind doing this style is that I am living here in Hawaii, I decided to put a building into the piece.

Here is a mockup of the modified composition. I am pretty excited with it and will get up early in the morning to start laying it down on the panel.

This image is copyrighted to the artist. NO COPY NO

The Judge is waiting in chambers

ugh heavy work week...I see the panel waiting for me as soon as I walk in the door.....sigh...I meant to do the (oops! I almost gave away a part that is going to be a surprise!) anyway....I really meant to come home and paint after I rode. But I had such a great ride, I spent too much time pampering Sypher and when I got home and showered, the daylight was gone.
I WILL work on it tomorrow! I WILL work on it this weekend!
A fellow guild member sent me to a hilarious website called LOL Cats because I asked if anyone had a cat photo I could use as a reference.....well, that site sucked hours out of my life! I highly recommend it!

I mailed off the panel to Le Cadeau du Cheval today. I am hoping to be at Spruce Meadows for the unveiling!

The Judge

I started this piece a long time back and lost interest in it when my dog became ill and distracted me.

It was begun with acrylics but I am switching to oils because I hate acrylics now.

So here is the original sketch, the acrylic underpainting, and my first day back on it with oil.

I am going to try to do this in the arts & crafts technique. I have always admired that style but never attempted it myself.

All these images are copyrighted and for those of you who don't speak english as a first language, that means NO COPY!!NO!!

Le Cadeau du Cheval completed panel

well, I think it is done. I am pretty happy with how it came out. And very happy that it has time to dry before I ship it out.

This photo doesn't show the true gradations of color, that is disappointing, because that is a big part of the picture.

The title is Evolution: War Horses (copyrighted by the artist 2008)

The inspiration for the Evolution series are the cave paintings of horses. They start the story .

On the far right is Bucephalus, the horse of Alexander the Great. Alexander loved this firey horse so much that a city was named in his honor.

The big grey is my interpretation of Marengo. According to my research, Napoleon rode grey arabs mostly. But there are no records of a horse called Marengo. Napoleon was known for giving nicknames, so it is probable that after his major victory in Marengo, he started calling his horse of the moment by that nickname.

On the far left is a US cavalry remount from the early 20th century. Fading back into the cave wall is Old Glory. The stars become handprints put there by an early civilization. A statement that "We were here".

There are lots of interpretations that can be extrapolated from this painting. But honestly, when I composed it and painted it, there was no hidden adgenda or message. I encourage you to let your imagination wander as you look at the images of great horses that are a part of great civilizations.

Comparing the original and today's work

I wanted to see the original and my image side by side. I think I am staying pretty true to the original color pattern and color. (I hope so anyway!!)
Would appreciate comments!!

taking a break---it is getting hot next to the window where I paint. think I will go get an iced coffee....and see my horse.

Day 8--lunch break post

Just stopping for some lunch, made some changes once I had good references to work with.

I think it will be finished this weekend.

At last!!

My long awaited reference book finally arrived today...yippeeee!! And was it ever worth it, the very first plate that I looked at gave me exactly what I needed!
whew---what a relief! I may be able to sleep tonight!

Day 7--the clock is ticking!!!!

finally my new paints arrived today, what a relief to see that package when I got home from work!

I gave Sypher the day off from work, just ran over to groom him, and then came back to slap at least a little paint onto the panel.

sorry it's not completely focused, I was running out of daylight.

Day Six of Mural Project

Haven't painted all week because of my "day job". Then had to prop my leg up Saturday because of an injury at work Friday.

Was in a really disgruntled mood. My french army reference book STILL hasn't arrived. My new paints STILL haven't arrived. errrgggghhh!!!

finally my left brain gave up and my right brain took control!I was reading with my leg propped up and realized that I was no longer reading but I was visualizing my panel. So I jumped up and painted before my left brain could interfere!Only a couple of hours but at least it is some progress!

Day Five of Mural Project

I am taking a break from painting. I should send a picture of my palette. It is sooooo OCD compared to others!!I did squeeze out more paint today than before and it is making me paint like mad (for me anyway) because I don't want it to go bad!Here is what I have done this morning. I think I will go get a McD iced coffee for a reward!I have gone ahead and blocked in the Marengo body because I had to start visualizing it. I can make the tack accurate once I get the reference book.

Day Four of Mural Project

Popped out of bed and went off to the barn early with the intent of getting a reference photo for my Marengo figure because the lighting was perfect. Figured I would ride early too.
I got the shot I wanted, just in time, because then the vog arrived. My horses were both turned out already, so I sat and waited until their turnout was done. Put them in the stalls so they could drink and pee, lo and behold neither one had finished breakfast yet. BIG SIGH...so I headed home to eat my own breakfast and figured that I would upload the photograph and fiddle with it. Got to my door and realized that I had left the camera in the barn. grrrrr
Okay, good intentions 'nere won fair maiden and all that. I will finish my milk and head back out.

Day Three of Mural project

I didn't get as much paint on the panel today, BUT I found a great reference photo FINALLY for the cavalry tack.

I'm still waiting for my french cavalry reference book to come.

I am happy with how things are moving along. I have to admit, I spent about an hour at robert clark's website and admired his work before I started painting. But time well spent!

You can see his work at http://www.robertclark.us/

All for today....thanks for coming by!

Day Two of Mural project

I am feeling more relaxed and intuitive today. As an aside, I had not done any painting for over a year, ever since I moved here to the island. I missed it, but just never got started.

This has been a grand project to kick my heinie into gear!

Although it may not look it, I actually got a lot done today. The only reason that I stopped is because twice I nearly tipped my brush cleaning tub over into my lap (my space here is very limited)!

I am still working with a very limited palette. Today I added yellow. Which yellow, you ask? Good question!

Let me tell you a little story about my paint supply....before I moved here I squeezed out my paints into two big weekly pill containers. One for warm colors and one for cool colors. Then I got distracted by the move and when the art supplies finally arrived, I had forgotten what they were! Not only that, but I had forgotten an important step in the whole idea of taking the paint out of the tube and storing it in the pill container....it is supposed to be kept in the freezer when not in use.

But believe it or not, they are still good. A bit of a skin on each one but still soft and buttery inside.

I do lack a few colors that would be very helpful with this particular panel, but I will see how it goes. Maybe I can mix what I need.

So enough chatter! Here is day two of my panel:

the first day of paint on the panel

finally put paint on the panel

Here is the original panel,

and here is the first bit of painting,

and a detail of the leopard skin that is on Bucephalus that although doesn't look that great in the photo, I like quite a lot.

I used my fingers a lot in this stage which is one reason that I enjoy oils so much.I only used aliz crimson and cobalt blue with white. I thinned everything with a 4:1:1 mix of turps, damar, and linseed oil. I painted really thin at first and then realized that it wasn't covering my grid! yikes! So that is when I started in with fingers!! I will probably continue this way to cover and get in the shapes, darks and lights. Then I will go to brushes and details.

ahhhhhhh I feel such a sense of relief now that I have started. Like I always say, doing art is like laying an egg

Buk buk buk bukkah!!!

ahhh I looked at my calendar at work and realized that I had no meetings or major events to contend with, so I told my boss that I was taking the rest of the week off. She is a great supe, and she agreed that this was a good opportunity to use some personal time. So I have until Tuesday to work on my painting AND my horses! And I won't have to get up at 4am!!!...I probably will just out of habit, but I don't have to and that makes all the difference!
I have my composition worked out, and I am starting to transfer it to the panel.
My biggest anxiety is that I will mess up the base and thus mess up my portion of the mural. I am not the type of artist that plays well with others, I guess.
But I just have to start putting down paint. I know once I start it will be easy and come right out.
So, you are thinking, let's see the idea!...but no, because I have been thinking about copyrights and blogging and the world wide web and the Orphan Art Bill...so I think I will wait and let the main mural folks post the image first.
I can assure you that it is fantastic, take my word for it!
On the horse side, I was riding down the road today with both my horses (my friend Wayne was on my mare) and a friend of his stopped to say hi. He introduced me and my horses to her and she said ( VBG) "Oh is he the wonderful horse that everyone is talking about?!" ....I am grinning from ear to ear! People are talking about my boy?....well, he deserves it!

Le Cadeau DU Cheval

well, guess I should spell the title of the project correctly, eh?

this blogging thing, ...I dunno....I had a heck of a time figuring out how to make another entry! You'd think with the name 'blog' that it would be very intuitive and easy, right?...well maybe not intuitive, that sounds too intelligent....but it should be easy!...boy, I sound old to myself!!

anyhoo....I got the thumbs up from the organizers to go ahead with my idea and I am looking forward to the weekend so that I can start laying out the images onto the board.

as an aside; I have to make up my mind whether or not to enter a show with Sypher this Saturday too. it is the deadline for entries...I have not yet decided...he has been having some problems with tension which I think is a pain issue. and I haven't tracked down the cause yet. He feels better after a week of bute. I'll see if this new cosequin kicks in and helps him along. I know how he feels, my old body hurts too.

this island paradise is looking very overcast and odd this week. the vog (a smog made from volcanic fumes) has really gotten thick. the islanders say that the volcano has not acted like this before....of course not, I wasn't here. Now that I am here with my phobia(s): volcanos, tsunamis, sharks, jelly fish, and all the other various way to be killed by the ocean....of course the volcano is going to act up!.....I tortured myself last night by watching a special on how some archeologists figured out a plausible (hey mythbusters!) theory of when and why the Minoan civilization disappeared around 1600 BC. Very interesting! and of course it could happen here says my phobic imagination!

but I digress......
stay tuned for painting and whining in future posts.

Le Cadeau de Cheval

Well, two new beginnings!

I have a blog and a panel to transform into artistic statements.....yikes....

Here is my section of the giant mural project Le Cadeau de Cheval:

(I told them to send me whatever section they wanted. I believe in making peoples' lives easier when they volunteer to take on massive tasks). This is section 178: it is 16 x 16 inches.

Since I have a series called "Evolution" that I have been working on for some years, I decided to do another version of that theme. You can see my work on my website: http://www.marengoink.com/

guess that is it for right now;