Gumballs.

It's been a while since I posted any new painting photos, because I have been so busy painting.
After making it through the holidays, trying to paint every chance I got, I have made significant progress on my 6' commission.  I have finally reached the point of  showing my clients a photo of the painting, and they are pleased with the results so far...now into the home stretch!

While letting paint dry, and trying to make some final decisions on the commission, I have painted a background (first layer of paint) on one of my other paintings.  (I must say, I could paint this model forever, and never get tired of her!)  This painting is one of my favorites of her, and I have added one of Charles Bell's paintings; "Gumball Section A" to the background.

Charles Bell is another Photorealist, and his work is not only amazing, but captures an entire era with the subjects he paints.  I have painted gumball machines myself, and even have a collection of them.   ( This painting is not completely finished yet either, but is closer....)

Andrew Wyeth (reposted)

 "Chistina's World"

"Dream"
(I originally posted this in November 2009, but when the images diasappeared, I had to find, and repost them, and I was reminded what a great man Andrew Wyeth was!  I felt the need to repost...)

Andrew Wyeth died almost a year ago (January 16, 2009) at the age of 91. I was never so much a fan of his work, as I was an admirer of his work, until I recently finished reading a biography on his life and art: Andrew Wyeth A Secret Life, by Richard Meryman. It is such a wonderful book, that I hated to finish it! Not only does the book give one a better understanding of Andrew himself, but also of his father, NC Wyeth, and his son Jamie Wyeth (both artists). The book delved into their interesting, and complicated relationships with one another. The story of NC's death was heartbreaking, but the perspective on death from Andrew (learned from his father) was fascinating! They seemed to view death as they did life....and that is possibly what makes Andrew's work so interesting to me. In a time when modern art was thriving, Andrew managed to stay true to himself and his work. He painted what he knew, and never questioned it. (He had watched his father "sell out", just to keep his family happy in the style to which they were accustomed.) I had always wondered how the Helga paintings came about, and I thought there may have been a hidden agenda, until I read about them. The story makes total sense, and I personally feel they are some of his best work, although maybe since I am currently painting nudes, they resonate with me. (We even get to see how the lives of his models sometimes turn tragic.) The era Andre Wyeth grew up in is certainly an age gone by, and I found it fascinating to share that time, while reading the book. His paintings definitely have a quiet solitude to them that I find immensely pleasing, that also records a time not so far in our past. Check out some of the Andrew Wyeth portraits on YouTube, and definitely read the book! If you like, or are curious about the Wyeth family, it will be well worth it.

Photos on blog seem to have disappeared???

While I was reviewing my blog, I noticed that many of the painting images have disappeared, and have big exclamation marks on them.....is everyone seeing this?  I have been trying to repost them, but there are so many....

Commission continues.....

I just finished painting the shoes on my six foot figure!  That means the whole body has it's first layer of paint, and, so far, the paint is drying fairly fast.  (I decided not to use the quick dry paint, because I am not sure how I like it...it seems kind of "plastic" to me when it dries, and I am a fan of the way oil paint looks when it is dry....which I think is extremely important when painting a Thiebaud cake.)
My next decision is how to handle the shadows in the background.....after I paint the background, then I will repaint the entire figure, and see what I think.....

                                                                                            

And since I always like to post a photo of a painting, here is "Cakes!", with Wayne Thiebaud's painting "Cakes" in the background.

One and 1/2 Cakes!

I have been working on my painting commission that "incorporates" my client's Wayne Thiebaud painting; "One and 1/2 Cakes".  The Thiebaud painting is amazing, and today I am starting to paint the cakes!  The idea of the commission came from my client, and it is a "shift" from what I usually do, but in a very creative way.  When presented with the idea, I was totally taken with it, and the pieces have fallen into place nicely.  I don't think I will post any photos of the actual painting until it is further along, or possibly when it is finished, but here is a photo of the original Wayne Thiebaud painting.....oh I look forward to the day when I actually own a Wayne Thiebaud of my own...