Looking Inside/Looking Outside- acrylic painting

this is the start of a new direction -- laid out by the self portrait of a few days ago. the figures define a strong diagonal composition. i began with a cadmium yellow and orange underpainting.

this has been quite freeing for me -- allowing the paint to develop under it's own power -- without a lot of layering that i've been used to doing.

there's a spontaneity to the final result.... a flatness or matte appearance to the paint -- sort of like a gouache.

tomorrow... i will see how much i approve of my efforts.... that's always the best critic.

Looking Inside/Looking Outside
acrylic
34" H x 44" W
2008

Desales Neighborhood Group

This painting is going to auction this evening. Donated by a patron -- who purchased it a number of years ago... from Elliot Smith Gallery. It's from the
B & W Series of nudes and figures painted during the 1990's. I was asked to verify its authenticity and value.

i hope it generates income for the neighborhood organization!

Hearts and Palms
watercolor
28" H x 35" W
1995

Pond Watercolor

This watercolor is a rework of a piece i hammered on last summer. i was never really satisfied -- and after many months of consideration -- decided to return to it.

it is fuller now with better scale and focus.

i was always taken with the background water.... and not the reeds -- so this time around... i spent much more time on the reeds... deepening them.. and bending them with value and shadow.


Early Light
watercolor
25" H x 60" W
2008

leftover sunflowers-- acrylic

i think it's finally... done!

you know.. sometimes.. when you work on a painting.... you work and work-- only to get fatigued.. and have to put the painting aside.

that's what i did with this piece. i couldn't figure out how to draw it to conclusion... everything was "right".. but it just wasn't complete.

i put it away.... and began the acrylic swimmer.

yesterday.. at the end of day.. i brought it out and reviewed. i saw exactly what i needed to do! and.. on top of that.. i had the courage and emotional distance from the 'making' of the piece.. to do the change!

the changes aren't that obivious but slight additions of stems and texture... here and there.. mainly to the top of the silhouette of flowers.

NOW.. i really like it.. and i'm happy that it's done!

Leftover Sunflowers
acrylic
48" H x 24" W
2008

put yourself in your paintings- acrylic

this portrait is a new approach [for me] to acrylic painting. i'm doing more ground work.... preliminary stuff -- BEFORE i even begin painting. also.. i tried putting in a warmer ground-- the cadmium orange and yellow light -- underneath the total painting ....makes the image warmer and adds richness and glow.

i like the composition and the energized brushwork in the background. i'll try this again in a different palette. i'd like to bring out the eyeglasses more prominently.

Makin' Mischief
acrylic
18" H x 20" W
2008

watercolor portraits

Two portraits i worked on the last few weeks... for clients from Ecuador. the y are smaller format-- and straightforward in presentation. the goal is to capture "likeness'... without sacrificing watercolor technique. i love doing portraits. it's very satisfying to create a painting that resembles someone... and with that... creates an emotional attachment for them!

Cecilia
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
15" H x 22" W
2008


Adriana
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
15" H x 22" W
2008

Sea Grape - Revisited Acrylic

i added a small shift in background orange..to make a more interesting passage -- in lower right hand corner. this makes it just a bit more quirky and unsettling.

i still like the piece...especially when it's situated in its heavy gold frame!

Sea Grape
acrylic
16" H x 20"W
2008

Letting Colors Run- Acrylic Painting

Here it is! the latest painting i've been working on.... a moderate size acrylic of two swimmers in acrylic technique that i normally reserved for landscape.

it's always been a challenge for me... to work the figure in acrylic-- watercolor tends to lend itself naturally to figurative work.

there's something difficult about making an opaque pigment look fleshy and volumetric!

but... i do like this piece-- even though last weekend i had 'ruined it' and gave up.

i came back into the studio with new resolve-- humility... and let the 'painting teach me'.... i subsequently brought it back to completion.

well.. near completion....

i reserve the right to go back into it... after a time.. and make necessary, dispassionate changes.

Letting Colors Run
acrylic
40" H x 50" W
acrylic
2008

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Sea Grape Continues- Acrylic Botanical

This sea grape painting was sacrificed to learn new techniques and materials. i am seeking to deepen the richness of my acrylics.. and broadening my technique. i took a smaller/older acrylic -- and painted another layer. the sea grape became my test-kitchen. i like painting... when you don't have to worry about 'results'.... you are only concerned with learning. there is some 'rolling' of paint involved here -- and some spritz w/ toothbrush. also, a variety of new glazes and pigments from Liquitex.

as a result... i like the painting now.. it has more character and individuality than before. it seems to mimic the crusty ol' sea grapes that hang about the edge of the beach.

i am going to resolve on more passage in the sky.. and then frame and enjoy for a while.

Sea Grape
acrylic
16" H x 20" W
2008

Black and White Nude

This small nude is a study I did... in preparation for a larger painting I plan to do this winter. I wanted to work out the format and the composition. The cast shadows are a particular interest -- along with the model's hair. I have a bit more detail-work... but otherwise it's largely finished.


two girls
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
22" H x 10 " W

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Sweet Calla- Floral

This tiny little watercolor was done a few years back... 2004 to be exact. It hangs proudly in a home on the West Coast.

I was surprised to see it... and really enjoyed the 'glow' around the flower-- and the way it was framed.

Calla Lily
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
14" H x 4" W
2004

Tobacco Sunflower Floral

Here is another acrylic tutorial. I like to share the various stages it takes to make a painting. I find it fascinating and helpful myself.

Each stage takes time.. and over all -- I think there's about two week's worth of work here.





I begin with a slight outline-- and under paint with Cadmium Orange.

I then add the deeper purples -- mixed in with Liquitex Baltic Gray and Baltic Green.

After most of the passages are defined according to value and weight-- I am free to add the background.

The subject flower is then "taped off" -- so that the image will be protected as the background gets painted.

There were a couple of attempts to get the background color right. I took great care to blend the right softness to add volume of space.

The first background had more orange. Subsequent layers took that away-- but you can always see little remnants and underpinnings of previous layers.

Mid State Sunflower Floral

The layering continues-- and painting in the intricate greens and greys give form and share to the cascade of leaves underneath the blooms. The flowers themselves are painted in deep purple -- to resemble end-of-summer timeliness. The weight and sense of summer's turning -- was what I'm trying to capture.

Tobacco Sunflower Floral

These are the last few stages of the floral. There are many more -- as you would expect... but too many to post.

I added yet another layer of depth and glaze today -- finishing off the surface and deepening color.
Cadmium Orange and Dioxazine Purple we rolled on-- adding flexs of detail and color. that pops
I can see this framed with a heavy black frame.






Voila!

Tobacco Sunflower
acrylic
48 " H x 24" W
2008

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