Friday

Yesterday I delivered a cityscape painting that was commissioned a few months ago. Even though the client was very specific about what he wanted and checked in during the process I was still really nervous about presenting it to him. Sam agreed that the feeling of self doubt probably will never go away. It is a baseless fear that they will be like, "this looks terrible! This isn't what I wanted at all" 

This is the painting. They were really happy with it. That feeling that something you've made makes people happy. That others recognize and consider your abilities a talent, is pretty much priceless. 

So now an update from my current painting. There was a figure that I was giving me trouble. Originally it was turned away from the viewer and it was the closest in the foreground, which made it the back of a head. A huge back of a head. It was blocking movement through the painting. So I changed it to a profile and last night Sam suggests 3/4 view, which is what I went with. It is now the best part of the painting to me.

Perfect, huh? I wish I could just leave it like this. I am really going to leave the figures ambiguous. 

I mainly worked on the other side tonight:today. Here is initial color scheme. Though I need to get a really bright pink and possibly see if a neon orange is available.

A lot of painting ahead of me. I mean on this painting. I figure if I paint for the rest of my life I will eventually see some progress.

Goodnight.

Monday

Hello there. 

So I worked on some paintings tonight. I did some drawing for Sam on a commission (no pics, since it's not mine) and then worked on my color study/self portrait. Changes from realistic to colors that push/pull and back again. A few hours and I left it.

So the next few posts are going to be for people who maybe aren't artists. I had some stretchers built a few weeks ago. I had them professionally made because I lack a wood shop and I need a specific size. Two long stretchers. 

I had an idea for a painting based on the way we see different perspectives based on our viewpoint. Turning our head changes vanishing points of perspective. How can you show this? Panoramic paintings is my initial idea. Really wide ratio.

So I have an idea. I make some pencil sketches. Now comes the gamble. I haven't made a painting like this but I want to make it large. The canvas' re expensive, whether or not I build them myself or I have a pro shop make them. A couple hundred dollars gamble on canvas. But I really believe it will look really interesting. Maybe a new direction for me. But I am apprehensive so I make a few studies with gouache. Some work, some don't. But I have the canvas, so now the next few days I prep them. Applying coats of gesso. Shooting for 3-5 coats. Sanding. I hate sandpaper, it gives me the "willies" but I have to do it.

So I hope this helps you understand the initial back and forth you go through in the process. Idea, preparation, self-doubt. I haven't made paintings like this so I am worried I spent money and a LOT of time prepping and painting something that I (and everyone else) may hate. But it can be very rewarding. Let's hope so.

Fighter portraits

Starting some portraits of fighters. I am going to start a few and see if I can get some calm energy through mark making/ execution. 

Here is an initial start. I will update after some more work today.

I am done for today. I have some other paintings to work on tonight. I do like where this is heading.