Friday, October 29, 2010

"IT WASN'T ME!" Oil on canvas panel 5" X 7" nfs

Again, using the modeling gel, I tried a portrait. This is my grandson...two and a half years old. He was peeking around the corner at us. He looked so guilty, but he really hadn't done anything he wasn't supposed to!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

"CONSTRUCTION PROJECT" Oil on canvas panel 5" X 7"

This painting is another one with the technique described in the last post where modeling gel is spread on the panel to leave a raised texture. I think it works here particularly given the subject matter. What do you think?

Saturday, October 23, 2010

"I GOT YOU, BABE" Oil on panel 6" X 6" Sold

Sometimes, I feel like I want to try something new...out of my comfort zone. One of my favorite artists is Andre Kohn, an absolute master of figures. The texture he uses as a ground adds another level of appreciation for his paintings as it gives the light more planes on which it can reflect. Also, he uses a limited palette of colors - several neutrals such as grays, browns, ochres, whites and blacks. Just stunning work!

I thought I might try his technique even though I'm not quite sure of the material he uses for texture. I "palette-knifed" modeling gel on the background and let it dry. Then I added a thin wash of oil paint as an underpainting. I've been experimenting with brighter underpaintings and this one was transparent red. I painted the figures letting the underpainting show through in places.


I thought the bumps and crevices might be difficult to paint on especially in the sections that had more defined strokes, but not so. I'm anxious to varnish the work when it dries to see  how the texture affects the shine, but I'm kind of enthused about the results. What do you think? I'd really appreciate some input. I am going to do a couple more small paintings with this technique and work hard also on "loosening up" which has been a bugaboo for me since the beginning.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

"THE RUNAWAY" Oil on canvas 6" X 6" Sold

What is it about baby animals that softens the heart of just about everyone? This little quail chick and his nine siblings were on our patio one morning. The mother quail had taken them on an excursion and came onto the patio to rest. Instinctively, they mimic exactly what the parents do. So, when mom sits down, they all gather together and sit. This one, I could tell, was a bit feisty and was the last one to nestle. A rebel in every group, right?

Sunday, October 17, 2010

"MORNING GLORIES" 6" X 6" Oil on canvas

Morning Glories are one of those flowers I remember from my childhood. They used to grow wild all over the northwest and were considered a weed although a sentimental one. The ones in this painting were domesticated, growing beautifully on a white trellis next to a large front porch. The deep blues were such an eye-catcher.

*If you have an interest in purchasing this painting please email me at kiddofans@gmail.com.

Monday, October 4, 2010

"THREE ORANGES" 14" X 14" Pastel Sold

This painting was kind of a "play-with-color" piece. I had some scrapbooking paper which I thought made a bright background. It contained a lot of complementary blue to go with the oranges. Wild, but enjoyable

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Friday, October 1, 2010

"RESTFUL MOMENT" 12" x 18" Pastel Private Collection

I love painting portraits. Every person has an aspect of their personality that an artist hopes to connect to and portray. This little girl has many interests and a lot of energy with which to pursue them. One Sunday morning I managed to find her in a restful moment just as she got up. You know that time between sleep and the day in full motion. She still had her sleep clothes on and held her blanket. It wasn't long, however, before she was rollin' into whatever the day held for her.

The technical aspects of portraits are a fun (mostly) challenge as well. Skin tones have such a variety of hues in them as well as temperature changes. I still struggle to see these temperature changes and transfer them to the surface. Also, funny as it sounds, the nose is a difficult thing to do...for me, anyway. It has many planes in it and the light hits each of them in different ways. And, it's pretty crucial to get right! I guess the only way to gain confidence with it is just to keep on keeping on. That's why I sincerely admire artists like Sandra Flood and Karin Jurick for their expertise in this area.
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