studies gallore

Here is a piece i intend on finishing this week.... (wishful thinking)... these are the color studies and value study.  I have a couple more decisions to make but the drawing is on the final canvas (30"x15") that way i can feel secure enough in the drawing when i apply the paint layer.

This is a part of a series of cast studies i'm doing each week.  This is a cast with a red gel light on it. I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty awesome to paint. I can definitely improve, but definitely a step forward.  This is done on Arches oil paper.

Off to TRAC 2014!

Seeking change

SO, busy week, again.  But i'll do an update first;  I will have some paintings being presented for TRAC2014.  It'll be awesome.  If you haven't heard of who they are or what they're about check it out.  It's very relevant to contemporary art.

http://www.trac2014.org/

Philosophoper Roger Scruton, artist Juliette Aristides and painter
Odd Nerdrum will be be participating in this event along with many others.  Should be exciting!
If you haven't seen R.Scrutons documentary 'Why Beauty Matters', it would be good to watch.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-beauty-matters/



Went to the Autry to check out the Masters of the American West show with a group of comrades.  I'm spending part of monday writing an essay on it for fun.   Perhaps i'll do a small replica of one of my top three paintings three.   Go check it out.
http://theautry.org/
Below, Logan Maxwell Hagege; Mesa Drifters painting. (detail)

With that said i did have some time to do some artwork this week.  Studies for the most part so this week will be crazy with me trying to catch up with my own deadlines for final pieces.   Can't believe it's the end of February.  Trying to turn the tables on this year and enjoy life as i run through it.  Smile. 

So here is a paint sketch i did of the model Jonathan this week.  I'm getting accustomed to a new approach in painting which is, well, based alot on thinking, patience and organization.   You can only change so much at one time when doing things the way i do them... which is evidently the hard way.  there is hope yet, at least for some things.

and still playing with charcoal.

and, another study using the new method, studying light, structure, etc.

street lights and traffic violations.

Busy prepping for the Women by Women show and lots of modeling this week. I was loading my car with paintings and got a parking ticket.  That pissed me off.

The show was great!  Thank you to everyone who showed up, it means alot and you made the night so fun.  Couldn't have done it without you peeps. 

 My buddy Marina and I. 

Study done.

another week, and a show!!

I have a show coming this weekend!

Women by Women
Saturday, February 15, 2014 @ 7pm

Kwan Fong Gallery
120 Memorial Parkway, Thousand Oaks, CA

https://www.facebook.com/events/1449044568645382/1457819007767938/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

I'll be showing 4 pieces in total, and the other artists have some incredible pieces so come out and enjoy. :)  I'll have a new painting up for show.

Meanwhile,

a sketch i did this weekend;

a paint sketch from last week

and a 3 week study in Dobskys class, this is week two.  I'm using a limited palette and taking my time in thinking things through.

dead lines

This week started off pretty productive and varied.  Drew at open workshops, got some deadlines covered, and am now swimming on some more challenging painting deadlines.  

 

small study done in C.Dobskys class at LAAFA.  Black, white, burnt sienna and yellow ocher. 

 Detail of a painting i'm working on. Running into some roadblocks when it comes to painting skin still but toughing it through and working it out. It has monopolized my weekend with incessant repaints and remixing.  Hopefully finishing it later today, because i have to finish a whole new one (or two) this week for another deadline.

Now... back to work.  And some tea.   'Stuff you should know' and 'Talking History; The Italian Unification' podcasts on radio play this week. 

L.A.ing about.

crazy week as usual.  but here are some lights and darks;

a study of boots; this is the first quick sketch of it.  I'm finishing it up today and reposting it on this thread when i get decent photos.

trying out charcoals... oh boy... uhhh, not getting the point yet but you know, baby steps.

a portrait study in oils

I'm working on a larger portrait of a friend for a show coming up next month which should be super exciting!!!!!  More news on that to follow.

I also went to the L.A. Art Show; here are some pieces i dug;

HOLY COW, 2014!!

Whoa.  Lot's of awesome stuff planed for 2014.  But to start off i'll introduce.... updated news!!!

Two of my paintings have been selected for the CAC Gold Medal exhibition this year, which is awesome. 

One of my paintings is 'Boots', oil on panel,  9"x12"

Here is a quick study i did yesterday of a bear dressed as a frog, with a pepper.  I had a lot of peppers going bad so before putting them in a bake i had to paint them.  Colors!  Yup.  8"x10", oil on panel.

And lastly, a painting i had been working on, i don't know if i'm done with it yet.  20"x16".

Some pretty awesome shows coming up too.  I'll keep postings up and to date. Lot's of competitions i'm beginning to apply for.  So, fresh year, fresh start, fresh perspective, fresh future, fresh veggies.  Happy New Year.