A & A getting close

Making progress on the form painting. Changed the background orange to a slightly yellower color. Still refining and refining, but it is looking better.

Albert & Adam

Continuing the form painting. Still struggling with the jackets and shirts.

More on Raven

Found this drawing from the spring session at the Ryder Studio. Thought it would be a nice change from my current portrait work.

Graphite pencil and white charcoal on toned paper. 18" x 24"

Starting the form painting - challenge

I've started some of the form painting, chosing the large block areas first. Since the background is going to remain an unmodulated orange, I started there, then the clothes. I still need to work on the finer details of the fabric. Started work on the hair for both, so I could work a bit on the edges with the orange.

Challenge Wash-in

"Wash - in" of painting. A full color work using oil paint thinned with solvent. A bit like a loose watercolor. Albert (left) will have different glasses, so they are not really detailed. Adam chose the background and clothing for the father/son painting.

More on Challenge

"Inked" in over charcoal drawing with diluted oil paint. Then wiped charcoal off.

Continuing with the Challenge

Drawing in charcoal on canvas.

A New Challenge

Started work on a commission of a double portrait. One of the models is an installation artist and has particular ideas about background and what they are wearing. So I will be trying to balance my opinion with his. This is the poster study for the piece. I will be doing some work from photo, but will get the models into the studio at least once a week. Will keep you posted!

Yippee!!!

"Raven".............."Randy".................. "Cherished"

I entered these three pieces into a regional art show put on by the Kate Hoffman Art Association. Saturday, I was thrilled to learn that "Raven" received 3rd place and "Randy", 1st place in the Portrait Category. "Cherished" got 1st in the Still Life Category. AND.... "Randy" was judged Best in Show. Wow! guess those classes paid off!

New Still Life Poster Study

Taking on a real challenge.

Cheap Model

Decided to try a self portrait....can't beat the price. Tried to keep smiling. Obviously couldn't do a 75 hour pose.

This Little Piggy

Finished the still life. Just a few favorite items. Could be "conceptual"....art, music and the funds needed. But it was just some stuff.

Got Distracted

While working on my latest still life, I received some beautiful roses. Couldn't really do a full painting, so I tried a larger poster study.

Still Life Poster Study

We are back in Alpine, TX and I have started a still life painting. Above is the poster study. Anxious to see what happens to my work outside of class.

Portrait Drawings

Thanks Krista for use of your time at the studio. These are the works from the latest drawing class. Wayne, Lori, Maribou and Nova.

Drawings from the Studio

Randy, Maribou and Raven....some of the studio staples. Randy is on toned paper all are in graphite. All 18" x 24"

More Posters

Poster studies (color studies) 5" x 7" of Raven, Rose, Still Life and Wayne.

Poster Studies 2009

Finally photographed all of the poster studies I did since February. Didn't realize it was so many! These are all 5" x 7" and done in oil.

Ashby Portrait

Ashby, aka Wayne, sat for the Ryder Studio for a two week intensive portrait class. Although I didn't finish this during the class, I was able to get him to sit for an extra day. Oil, 8"x 10"

Raven - Finished and rephotographed

I retook the photo after using a bit of retouch varnish. Came out a bit better than an earlier post.

Raven sat 6 weeks for this portrait. Oil 14" x 16". A bit larger than I'd been doing before.

Figure Drawing

In the Ryder Studio, on a "normal" day, we work on our portraits in the morning and figure drawing in the afternoon. During the last two weeks, I've been working with Randy in incandescent / halogen lighting. These are the two pieces I completed.

Another Randy oil sketch

Randy has a whole suitcase of costumes. Sure makes it fun to paint! Quick 3 hour sketch. 9 x 12

Alla Prima Week - Randy

These were from our alla prima class (and some extra sessions outside) each one is a 3 hour pose, 8 x 10 (except the one above which is 9 x 12)
It was aerobic...oil sketches.

Alla Prima Week - Raven

We painted a number of quick portraits, generally about 2 1/2 hours when you count the model breaks. Changing costumes, background and lighting made it fun!
These are all Raven, and 8 x 12.

Understanding Modern Art

Last week we spent the whole week working on our own still lifes. As always, I set up still lifes a bit more complicated than necessary. I'm calling it "Understanding Modern Art". Somewhat tongue in cheek, that is the name of the book in the still life. 12"x12"

Final Rose

Finished Rose last week. Refined some of the forms and tried to bring the light up in the hair.

One more day!

Today was supposed to be our last day working on our portraits of Rose. But, yippee!, we get to work one more day next Friday. So here she is. Next week, I'll work on getting some sparkly highlights in her hair and some minor tweaking all around.

Getting Closer

We are down to the last week of form painting. So far it is coming together. Photo shows a bit of drying in (matt areas where the oil from the paint has sunk in) which will be taken care of with a bit of retouch varnish. Using a small round nylon brush with opaque mixtures of oil paint. Sometimes I'll use a tiny bit of medium when the paint is stiff and doesn't spread easily. We are working on oil primed linen canvas as our support. Mine has a bit of texture, others' are very smooth.

Continuing Form Painting

This week Tony did form painting demos each morning and we worked on our paintings in the afternoon. I've continued working up from the dark in Rose's face and spent a day on her hair. I still need to bring up the lights in her hair as well as the rest of her face.

Working up the neck/throat

Continuing the form painting of Rose. Should have stuck to the dark area but couldn't resist working into the light on her throat and chest.