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.