"My Last Painting of 2014", 40x30 Commission in Progress!

As 2014 comes to an end, I find myself working on a 40x30 commissioned piece that is near completion.  It is a nice way to end the year.  It was overall, a pretty good year.  I am looking forward to what 2015 brings.  Each year, for me, is relatively similar with just enough variety to satisfy me personally.  I find that I function best with routine that leaves some flexibility for things, or opportunities that might pop up.

I hope 2015 brings health, happiness and prosperity to each and everyone of you.  Happy New Year!
.....and again thanks for listening to my ramblings. 

Demo/heads from imagination!

Detail

     Head of woman, 11x7, oil, from imagination

20 minute quick study

     Yesterday was the final day of the fall semester for 2014 at Ringling College of Art and Design....final critiques in the morning class, and the afternoon class had already completed their final critiques, so I did three little demos.  Two heads painted from imagination, and one little painting directly from a graphite sketch in one of my sketch books.  It was a fun couple of hours.  I think practicing this type of demo is a useful exercise.....a great way to practice the application of paint and use of the brush without concern with likenesses and things of that nature.  Early on in my illustration career, I used to do a lot of these as warm ups.  I used to throw them away, until an artist friend convinced me that I should save them.  I don't do them that much any more, but I have bags of these left over from those days. I always intend to do more demos in these classes, but the weeks go by so quickly, next thing you know, the semester is coming to an end!

Head of a man, 11x7, oil, from imagination

Quick study

Detail

Third Demo using my sketch book as reference, 12x9 oil on linen panel

Detail

     Semester comes to an end and now it's time recharge the batteries, and do some on location painting and studio work.....along with long neglected projects.  Thanks for listening to my Cajun ramblings.

 

“Horseman/Cowboy”, A Youngster’s fantasy.

     I guess many youngsters from my generation and background dreamed of being a horseman or cowboy of some sort.  I am certainly one that has always ….since I can remember, had a love of horses, riding and all that goes with it.  I had several different horses as a youngster, and always seemed to have a riding horse until I got to be of automobile driving age…..not that I was ever a big fan of cars….and, I’m still not.  It really had more to do with dating girls….I guess.  It is a bit difficult to go on traditional dates on horseback!

     As an artist, I believe one gravitates to subjects that have some kind of connection.  I paint a varied subject, and horses are one that I continually revisit.  As a young man I always thought it would be great to have a place where a couple of horses could be kept.  Careers and life gets in the way of some of these dreams…..not that I’m complaining.  At times, with unbelievable busy schedules/deadlines, it might have been difficult to care for horses properly!  Anyway, here are a few recent paintings/studies of the noble beast….one of my favorite subjects to paint. 

     Maybe I’ll post a few of my horseback stories at some later date!  Again, thanks for listening to my Cajun ramblings!   

"The Chestnut Leads", a five step Demo!

 "The Chestnut Leads", 15x30 oil on mounted linen

I have neglected posting on my blog for a while.  I have had projects unrelated to painting that occupied some of my time...I apologize, and hopefully I will be more diligent!
  
I finally had a opportunity to get back to this horse composition.... and complete it.  I set it aside during our summer trip north.  I think it is for all intents and purposes finished....I might take one more look in a few days. 

This approach to this piece is called direct painting or a form of it.  It isn't pure Alla Prima.....it wasn't totally completed in one sitting, but parts of this painting were done once, and not touch again.  It is a difficult, yet fun way to work...if your observation skills are keen enough to confidently go for the finish immediately and not wait.  It all depends on my mood or feeling at the time.  Sometimes I feel more patient and willing to hold back.  One always ends up with same product....it is more about how one starts a painting.  I like starting
them a little differently each time....I feel it keeps me from relying on, or falling into a formula.  It's gotta be fun! 

Hope the demo is interesting to someone.  Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

"2014 Casselberry House Demo for the Florida Four Exhibition"

     This past Tuesday night was my “Florida Four” demo night.  Each of us took one night of the week long exhibition to do demos.  The audience consisted of artist, art enthusiast and was well attended.  Morgan Samuelson Price, a dear friend and exhibition participant introduced me and off we went.  Below are a few photos from that evening.  As often happens in two hour demos, I did a lot talking, and less painting than I should have…..but, it worked out alright and hopefully everyone got the essence of one of many approaches to starting a painting of the figure from photo reference.   The subject was a vintage looking man seated playing an old Cajun accordion.  As I explained that night, this is only one of many ways to begin…..there is no one way to do anything.  Had this been a different night, I might have started with an entirely different approach.   I stressed this as a means to avoid formulas, or a style because of its easy repeatability!  Anyway, it was an enjoyable evening and I thank all of those who made the effort to attend.  Thanks for listening to my Cajun ramblings! 

  

2014 Casselberry House demonstration painting, oil on linen....two hours or less.

 Detail

2013 Demo...this is last years demonstration piece, 16x12, oil on linen, two hours or less....at the same venue, Casselberry Art House, in Casselbery Florida.

"Revisiting a conceptual sketch"

"Untitled", 12x16 sketch, oil on linen

I am revisiting this conceptual sketch.   I painted it a while back and always thought it might make a nice larger composition.  This was done pretty much off the top of my head, particularly the background figures and environment.  I like the energy in the sketch.  My plan would be to tone down some of the sloppy looseness, while trying to keep the energetic painterly brushwork!  The foreground figure is from a session with a model in my studio.  I will find models that will hopefully somehow fit the feeling of characters that I have indicated, and use a classical guitar that I own as a prop…..that might work.   Even though this is not a sketch that I just completed, it still feels fresh in my mind and interesting enough to me, to motivate me to take it further.  I find that sometimes I do so much stuff, that I must step back, or put it away for a while.  Sometimes it helps, and sometimes I never look at them again…or, regret that I even bothered to look at them again.  But, the beat goes on!  It's all fun!  Thanks again for listening to my Cajun ramblings.

 "Untitled" Detail