A Painting A Day

I haven't posted here in a while. I have been busy getting my blog set up and running. I decided to join the ranks of artists who are doing daily painting blogs.
My new blog, "A Critter A Day" will show my daily efforts to create small works that will be available for sale.

When I first started this blog it was for the sole purpose of keeping me motivated and to keep me sketching and drawing as a means of being in constant communon with my art and to help me begin to express myself creativly. I didn't think I would have much time to dedicate to art so it was simply a sketching blog to show work I would do either in my free time or while away on vacation or camping. It take long for me to begin to muse about picking up a brush agian and begin painting. And I did. Now I cant stop. I have produced more paintings over this past year than I have my entire life previously. I have no intention of stopping. It is becoming a part of me. Something I NEED to do. Like breathing. I have no intention of quitting this blog although I will not be posting as often. I will be focusing my efforts on creating daily paintings and posting them on A Critter A Day. This effort will be a great excerise for me not only in disipline but a way to hone my craft and become a better painter. Until I post agin, visit my new blog "A Critter A Day" and check out what my daily efforts will yield.

Blue Heron Experiment: Finished

The final painting. I am pretty happy with the final result. The brush work is a little sloppy, but I don't have much time to work so I need to paint quickly as possible. I hope that as I continue painting this style I will begin to tighten up and develop a more controlled and precise painting.

"Blue Heron" 9x16, oil on panel

Blue Heon Experiment: Part 4

At this point I feel pretty good about the body of the Heron and decide to begin adding the beach. I need to have this color note on the panel to help me decide if the Heron is looking complete or if it will need more work. Because the heron is mostly blues and grey, I wanted the sand to be warm. In the reference the sand is cool: white with a touch of blue and grey. This lacks contrast, plus I know the sky and water are going to be cool, so I decied to push the color and really go for a warm yellow.

Blue Heron Experiment: Part 3

Next I mix up the colors for the body of the Heron. I fill in the area with a cool gray and then lighten and add color on the panel. I then paint in the legs and start to add more detail.

Blue Heron Experiment: Part 2

Next I mix up a pile of paint for the dark areas. I fill in the shadow on the ground and the shdow areas of the Heron. Mxing up a warm orange I paint in the beak and add a little detail.

The Blue Heron Experiment: Part 1

I have been wanting to try a new stylized approach to painting some wildlife. Sort of a loose abstract but still maintaining some detail. A source of inspiration for this would be silk baltic paintings or even the "factal" effect of a stained glass window. This is a style I have been thinking of approaching for some time now and just decided to give it a go and see how it works out. I recorded each step along the way in a sort of tutorial of the process. More for my own benefit, to be able to look back and see how I created it. But, I thought it also be an interesting process for everyone else to see as well. So here it goes.

First I sketch out the design of the Heron using a Tuscany Red colored pencil. My ground for this is a 1/8" thick hardwood panel that I made myself. I usually only use my own panels cut from hardboard, sealed and primed.

Over the sketch I outlined the basic figure using Burnt Sienna, breaking the composition up into large shapes. I am working in oil, so I will let this dry overnight so that I can work on top of it without disturbing the original markings.
To the right of the panel you can see the photo reference I am using.

Here is another small one for the holiday show. Below is the initial sketch



A close up of the sketch:



And finally the finished painting:

"Black Bellied Whistling Duck" 3.5x5 oil on panel


Actually I am not happy with the water. I wanted a touch of Thalo Green in the shadows of the water, but the Thalo Green got completely out of control and dominated that mixture. When this is dry I will probably go back in and repaint the water a higher key to help the contrast between it and the duck.

Back to the easel

Getting the paintings finishes and framed for the two shows got me off track with any steady painting. I need to get back to it though as I am trying to get work together for a holiday show at The Creative Center. I need 20 painting to exhibit for sale and I am trying to pound out a bunch of small painting that I can frame and sale for a lower price, to help encourage sales. I am also trying to keep the subject material "broad" so as to attract buyers. By broad I mean birds, flowers, fruit, etc. I am not sure how long I can maintain that being that it won't be long before I begin to come up with creative ideas and want to experiment. This show will purely be about making some sales and making some extra money for the holidays.

Below are the first few for this show. I dont have a lot of time this days to dedicate to painting so I have squeeze as much productivity as I can out of a few hours a day. And usually not in one sitting. An hour after work and maybe an hour later in the evening. With my 21 month boy wanting to be a part of everyhing I do, It can be tough to focus and get things done. I did find a solution that helps keep him occupied while I am painting. I set up a smaller easel I have, at his height, and put a canvas on it for him. He colors it with crayon, then to be like his old man, I gave him some old brushes and a cup of water. He loves it! He colors with the crayons then smears them around with a wet brush. He even demands that he has a papertowel to wipe his brush in.

This one is a quick apple study, about 30-40 minutes. I used a #8 filbert for the whole thing to help cover it and get it recorded quickly. 5x7, oil on panel.



This is my easel setup. You can see my homemade pallete that I bolted to the frame of the easel. Having it between me and the easel helps to remind me to keep my distance and get up close with the brush. I still lean over it to get closer but it is the thought that counts right? On the easel is my progress, about halfway complete, of an American Goldfinch.



Close up the completed painting.
"American Goldfinch" 3.5x5 oil on panel