A Pirate
Here is another study from a model. This model sat for about 3-4 hours. I like aspects of this painting. I feels it is complete even though there are areas of the white canvas showing through. There is a wholeness to it . . . . a unity. I don't necessarily think " when is this painting done", an open ended question if there ever was one. Rather I try to get most of what's in front of me or in my head, out onto the canvas, and I stop when I feel it has achieved a certain unity. There is a dialogue I am trying to have with myself and the painting. Establishing that dialogue or finding it is not easy, but it is what I am after. That dialogue leads me to this unity within a painting.

The Finish

I had earlier posted a study in pencil of a model sitting in a chair. This is the finished oil painting at 24"x30". Unlike the study, which plays up his face much more, I toned down any real recognition of who the sitter might be. It played a much larger role in the overall mood of the painting.

I will continue to post new paintings for a little while longer, so check back to see more.

As intended the original idea behind my blog was to show a "behind the scenes" sort of look at my creative process. There is a tremendous amount of things I am usually working on that never get seen. It is only the final finished oil paintings that typically make it to the galleries. I often feel these small studies have much more feeling because of the immediacy of their creation. I can carry that initial impulse all the way through till its done, since most are completed in one sitting. However, today and for the next couple of days I am going to be posting the bigger more "polished" paintings. Since I don't have these up on my website I figured I would give you all a chance to have a first look.

This first one, is a 30"x40" painting titled "Mind Games". There are outdoor chess tables located downtown at Pioneer Square, which is the subject of this piece. I took it as a vignette and abstracted the background so the players were on a stage of sorts. I also divided the painting in two, potentially cardinal sin when designing a composition, but regardless I think I made it work.

Being an artist . . . or a creative type or hell any person on any bad day, can really get you down. So I fight back usually at that point. I had to illustrate this scenario. But I am not sure of the roles here. So therefore am I getting knocked down a peg or two or if the guy represents art and art is getting its ass handed to him. Or is art still me, regardless? Philosophical arguments may ensue.

I use goauche for sketchbook studies for a couple of reasons. The main thing I enjoy about the medium is that it can be handled like oil, or at least that's how I use it. I get progessively thicker and thicker with it, because it dries so quickly, but if I add a little water I can pick up the layers underneath and blend them as well. So much versatility allows for a lot of freedom. Plus I can carry a palette, brush, and water, easily everywhere i go. And I am on the go quite a lot.
The story here is fairly straightforward about relationships, trying to wrap your head around it just makes it seem that much more complex. Sometimes things last forever . . . sometimes its like ships passing in the night.

Today is a little 11x14 study of a model in oil. I did this about a year or so ago. I had to get it back from a friend whom I gave it to so I could archive it. I figured since I was archiving it that I would also post it. It took all of 15 minutes. I had finished a larger painting from this very model and had some time to kill. So I did this quick thing.

A couple of studies today dealing with the female form and features.

The first image is just challenging what I know from memory, just a small thing maybe 5"x7".I liked the sudbdued quality to it.

In the second painting (oil on board 6"x10") I am exploring the difference between a warm red, a cool red, and a muted red earth tone, in this case asphaltum. Each mixed with white. I was really looking at the color relationships that exist when playing a warm and cool color off of one another. Even though it seems like I know what would happen, or how to use it for a desired "feel", you gotta just experiment to truly find out. So I found out. I can see myself using more limited palettes along these lines to do larger finished works.

Check back soon,I am going to be posting the stages of a larger painting, and of course the final.
As I expand on my blog, which is an excuse just to let me rant about art, and filter through all the things that come my way creatively, I will discuss more and more topics at length. As always your thoughts are welcomed. If you have any ideas about certain aspects to discuss let me know. We can address them here. The more we share thoughts . . . . .the better everyone can become.

till next time.
josh.