Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Exhibition preparations
This week I am feeling gloriously overcommitted. There are TWO juried exhibitions that I am working to prepare submissions for, two each. Submissions for both are due this weekend.
Doug Martenson suggested changes on my painting Bananas (which he really liked, at least), and assigned a new homework assignment. Paint a really dark eggplant, using the complementary (yellow) base layer. This will be just the reverse of Bananas, which was yellow on purple. I need to get after all that.
With Doug’s help, we put some important finishing touches (which I extended afterwards) on my Pears. I want this to be one of my submissions, so I have that one in the oven now at 225º to rush the drying process.
Then, I have a lot of catching up to do for Ted Xaras’ course on Methods of the Masters, having missed a week for our vacation in Seattle and Mt Hood. Had to buy a 3’ x 4’ piece of Masonite, mount it on a support frame and give it two coats of gesso, with sanding. Meanwhile, finish the drawing of the intended 3x4 painting using all the assembled sketches and drawings for it to, adding additional details, to the scale of 11” x 17”, get it blown up to full scale at a copy store and finally copy it to the Masonite. All that is due tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I’d asked Guiseppi Casadei to critique my painting Night Bus, which will also be one of my submissions. I was concerned because the central figure didn’t stand out, and I thought maybe I should cut back on the highlights on the face. Guiseppi was exactly on target: The problem was not the facial highlights, it was the highlights on the SEATS that took your eyes away from the main figure. Also, the black rubber seal around the bus windows competed with the figure - better to make it a dark gray. Both these changes did fantastic things. I hope they show on these Before and After pictures:
Night Bus, before
Night Bus , after
On Monday I painted a full figure in Guiseppi’s class. There is lots wrong with it, but I think it is my best one so far., my first one ever. At least the model looks relaxed and her demeanor is believable. All my previous nudes have been rigid or weird, pretty much totally lacking in grace and interest.
Whew.
Doug Martenson suggested changes on my painting Bananas (which he really liked, at least), and assigned a new homework assignment. Paint a really dark eggplant, using the complementary (yellow) base layer. This will be just the reverse of Bananas, which was yellow on purple. I need to get after all that.
With Doug’s help, we put some important finishing touches (which I extended afterwards) on my Pears. I want this to be one of my submissions, so I have that one in the oven now at 225º to rush the drying process.
Then, I have a lot of catching up to do for Ted Xaras’ course on Methods of the Masters, having missed a week for our vacation in Seattle and Mt Hood. Had to buy a 3’ x 4’ piece of Masonite, mount it on a support frame and give it two coats of gesso, with sanding. Meanwhile, finish the drawing of the intended 3x4 painting using all the assembled sketches and drawings for it to, adding additional details, to the scale of 11” x 17”, get it blown up to full scale at a copy store and finally copy it to the Masonite. All that is due tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I’d asked Guiseppi Casadei to critique my painting Night Bus, which will also be one of my submissions. I was concerned because the central figure didn’t stand out, and I thought maybe I should cut back on the highlights on the face. Guiseppi was exactly on target: The problem was not the facial highlights, it was the highlights on the SEATS that took your eyes away from the main figure. Also, the black rubber seal around the bus windows competed with the figure - better to make it a dark gray. Both these changes did fantastic things. I hope they show on these Before and After pictures:
Night Bus, before
Night Bus , afterOn Monday I painted a full figure in Guiseppi’s class. There is lots wrong with it, but I think it is my best one so far., my first one ever. At least the model looks relaxed and her demeanor is believable. All my previous nudes have been rigid or weird, pretty much totally lacking in grace and interest.
Whew.