Peacock, 29 Faces and Moving Forward

Thirteen

Peacock
encaustic 16 x16
 

I'm really excited about this painting for so many reasons.  It may or may not be a great painting, but so many things came together.  I've been injured and sidelined.  Really stupid stuff and no glamour to it at all.  The first injury was thought provoking - but the second - I honestly believe was a message to me to just stop - stop all extraneous things and pull into simplicity.  For about a week, I did nothing but paint.  It was about the only thing that I could do, so just sitting in the studio and painting, and focusing has been really wonderful and some really wonderful things have come from it.  This painting and the acrylic paintings have taught me so much.  I'm actually really excited again, excited to be painting and discovering and yes... moving forward.  Love that!

Twelve

acrylic 5x7



Red, Being a Winner and 29 Faces: 5-7

Five

 



Polo Man
encaustic on birch 6 x 6

In keeping with trying new things - I did just that.  Polo Man here is inspired by the lovely work of Christine Striemer.  She is also participating in 29 Faces.  She uses a red tinted background to do her portraits - so thought I'd give it a try because I love the results she gets and her portraits are fabulous.

He came out super textured which I'm still debating if I like for portraits in wax - but seems to be what I'm getting lately.  I also tried a new encaustic painting technique that encaustic artist Willow Bader uses.  She actually squeezes oil paint onto her hot palette and mixes the colors with wax.  I'm not sure yet - but I have my palette set up that way at the moment.  He's also the by product of working in acrylics for faces.  I can actually see a difference in this guy after I've done a few with paint.  Lots to learn.

Six and Seven



The Ladies
encaustic on masonite 10 x 10

More new things: 
I also was the lucky winner of Martha's giveaway on her blog - Ayala Art.  I was the winner of her Basic Face Workshop.  I've learned so much.  Thank you Martha - and I can't say enough, that if you want to learn the basic face - sign up for Martha's workshop!!  The Ladies above are a result of the class and its been fun to play around with what all can be done and the many styles for the face.  I'm coming to realize that my faces look the same - I can move eyes wider, make noses longer, what ever, but they all sort of come back to what they are... so there I have it - a style :)

Happy Friday.   Hit the buttons below and go see some fabulous art.

29 Faces Complete, The Couple and Milestones

The Couple
encaustic and oil on cedar block 6 1/4 x 11 x 5 1/2
Faces 28 and 29



Today is an exciting day. 

 

Milestone #1 -  A selection (a small selection) of my paintings are out in the world, hanging in a retail space for sale.  Its like a major milestone - one that was so very far away but I've actually arrived and its really exciting.  Now, I will just wait for them to find their new homes where they belong :)

 

Milestone #2 - I completed 29 Faces.  All 29!!  The one above is really not quite done but pretty close.  A friend of mine gave me some cedar scrap blocks from a project.  I've put one of them on feet and have painted The Couple on one side.  I'm deciding what will accompany them on the remaining sides - a house with a picket fence?  a dog? a cake? or perhaps nothing.. only one side painted.  I'll share the entire process and the remaining sides when its complete. 

 

The third milestone - This is my 300th post on this blog.  Hard to believe that actually.  I started in May of 2010.  I'm going to have a celebration with a giveaway - but not today... coming soon.

 

The Fourth - I actually committed and signed up to take an encaustic painting workshop at WaxWorks West in California.  I leave next Friday and spend the weekend painting faces in wax with Charlie Levin.  Actually booking and pushing the button to commit was major - but once that was done, the excitement settled in.

 

The Fifth - I got up the guts to tell my story and be the featured artist for PPF this week.  Took me all year to do that. 

 

And... one more - I have a new facebook page and I would love for you to come be my friend :)

 

Thanks to Ayala Art for hosting 29 Faces.  What fun!  So many creative artists participating - so inspiring.  Also, many thanks to the artisits of PPF for being so supportive.

 

 

 

Imagination, Sperm Whale and 29 Faces

 

She Had a Whale of an Idea
oil and paper on hardboard - 9 x 9
Face #13

Things have been getting serious around here.  Seems that I've gone on some bird tangent and what better way to mix things up than to bring a whale into the picture :)

 

I also decided to mix things up a bit and try some different kinds of faces.  I was feeling a bit in the need to cut loose and be more imaginative.  I was talking to an artist friend a while back and asking what she does with her left over oil paint after she works on her portraits.  Her answer was that she plays - she paints some fun, not-for-real, imaginative stuff.  I thought that sounded great - but really I had noooooo idea how hard that is for me until I tried it.  Honestly, I've been feeling like I have no imagination at all - give me something tangible and real to paint like a portrait or a specific animal - a photo to follow... but to dream something up?  Total painter's block - like zero, zip, nada - nothing comes to mind.  Its been stumping me for a while on what to do about this - because art is fun.  Its imaginative (or real) or whatever - but it shouldn't be difficult.  So, I've set out on a side trip along the artful journey and that is to try some silly, imaginative, make believe things - just for fun + I've really been wanting to paint a Sperm Whale :)

 

Face #14
oil on paper

Spring
oil and paper on hardboard 9 x 9
Face #15

With these, I'm half way through 29 Faces.   I did a little research on framing oil paintings done on paper - it really didn't look good.  In fact, it sounded like less than ideal and difficult is more like the answer.  Oil paintings can't have glass.  So, I'm experimenting with first mounting paper on hardboard - then painting oils on it.  Does anyone know anything about this?

 

Travels, Progress and Happy New Year

I don't know how you feel about things, but 2012 whizzed by for me.  Its been a year full of wonders and progress.  Sometimes, we have no idea how far we have travelled, until we pause and take a look back.  I mean really look back to where it is that we started.  Look to the point where we took our first steps in the direction in which our hearts told us to go. 
This is my first wax portrait that I did.  And really, there weren't many before her regardless of medium.  I painted animals as a kid, not people, not portraits.  Yet, lately this past year there has been a compelling desire to learn to paint portraits.  No explanation, no reason - just got it in my head and had to go that way, that direction.  It was the same for me, when I just had to learn how to do encaustic painting.

encaustic and paper on birch

I honestly, have no idea where this road is taking me - nor do I really care.  All I know is this is the way I need to focus what I am doing right now.   I know I am on a ride, where I'm not exactly sure where the next stop lies, nor if its a long ways down this road, or perhaps I get on to something new tomorrow.  But, what I do know is that its right for the moment.  The road has taken a twist with the addition of oil paints.  But, I know, it will all come together some how, some way.

oil on paper

 

While, not every painting is perfect - the progress is forward even if in bits and pieces.  2012 has been this way for me.  Its been a piecing together of wonderful progress -  one painting, one face at a time.  And, I know it isn't just me - I've seen it in many other's work this year and its been fun to share your progress with you.  Thank you all for your support through 2012.  I am so looking forward to what 2013 has in store for all of us.  Wishing you all a very creative and Happy New Year!!

 



Breaks, Water Soluble Oil Paint and More Faces

This past week I've been working more with the water soluble oil paints. I'm figuring them out. I'm also getting a better feel for painting faces and the ability to see in terms of values. Taking the time to stop the norm for me and settle in to learning and studying is a great break and a beneficial one.
My break is coming to an end and Christmas is just around the corner. Wishing you all Happy Holidays to you and your families.
Have a Merry one!