It's coming along....

untitled, 36" x 24", oil on gessobord
2nd day's work

After a really snowy weekend, the sun came out and I got an early start in my studio today. This is my second day of work on the painting above. There isn't a name for this piece yet...just can't seem to get a title to pop into my head. It will come.

I mainly tried to finish covering the surface and didn't touch the faces this week. Mainly, I was concerned with the values and blocking in the objects. I took a lot of the smaller objects out...too much detail. However, the bottle looks a bit on the lean-y side. Need to straighten it up a bit. Hopefully, I'll get this done in one more session.

When that session takes place will be the unknown factor. Both kids (and boyfriend) will be home for Christmas and my studio will turn into a bedroom. I purchased the Aero bed last week. Can't wait to see that puppy inflate all by itself. It's a full size bed and that will take up all my floor space.

Today, I'm finished doing studio work a bit early because I have a committee meeting at the gallery in Dixon at 3 p.m. It's 2:30 now, so it's time to get my rear in gear and on the road.

Happy holidays to everyone.

Plein Air in the snow

Just saw this video from artist, Michael Chesley Johnson, doing a winter scene en plein air, outside....brrrr. The video is very nice compared to some artist videos. Found it on Artist's Magazine's blog.




Well...time to get off this laptop and on to the real world. Jeff just handed me a grocery shopping list for the restaurant and instructions to pick up his sous chef on the way back (that's what happens when you get too many dui's...bosses have to pick you up for work----ahhhh, the restaurant business...).

This afternoon, I have a meeting at the Lee County Courthouse (with Debbie and Arin) to find out about a new mural project! Post later on that job.

Ice Storm vs. Snow Storm

the sketch

2nd stage...that's it for today, 36" x 24", oil on board

I vote for snow storm. Much easier to drive in! Last Thursday, Jeff and I catered a local Chamber of Commerce Christmas party at the director's house and it started snowing just as we left our place with all the food to go to their place. By the time we got there it was almost whiteout conditions and we started worrying...like, what if no one comes?

There we all were -- the 5 of us -- sitting there with all this great food and cases and cases of wine and beer. I think we would have been fine if no one came...heh heh. But, almost everyone came and a good time was had by all.

Today we're in the midst of an ice storm that's supposed to get really snarky tomorrow. So, I'll spend another day at the easel instead of driving into Dixon to work.

Speaking of easel, I started on a figurative study (above). It's Jeff (in white baseball hat) and some of our staff plating up a private party in our restaurant kitchen. I don't do too many figurative paintings, but do them occasionally to keep me from getting rusty. I would have gotten farther along, but I decided to make my Italian gravy today and that takes a bit of time...it's called procrastinating about going into my studio.

"Last Blooms of Summer"
20" x 16", acrylic on board

Wooo hooo! Made it into the studio today and actually got to paint. I had about 4 finished paintings that needed their sides painted (they are all 2" cradled gessobords) a nice rich dark color. It really sets off the painting from the wall.

Painting the sides of these things is something I tend to put off, like getting them wired for hanging. My cordless screwdriver bit the dust and now I have to use an old-fashioned screwdriver! I know....crazy, right?

Today I finally got around to painting the featured piece. I sketched it out at the end of September. Its an acrylic instead of my usual oils. Needed a change and it was fun to do a painting in one session. Although I think I'll need to work on the background transition a bit more.

Don't know when I will be able to get back in the studio. Christmas parties in the restaurant start full swing this week.