Trying to stay loose while painting a simple bit of architecture. I should really be painting fruit or trees or something a little more organic. I've just had this photo kicking around and had always meant to paint it. Again, what I thought would be really simple was deceptive.
I had some more time on the clock and paint on the palette, so I whipped out another sketch of something that was nearby. For some reason, the ones I'm trying less on work out better. Hmmmm. Maybe I was just warmed up. Maybe picking something less daunting makes a better subject for a beginner. Hmmmmm.
Another exercise for my patriots at the Art League Now group for the Post Card Arts Gang. Be sure to look them up and the great San Rafael artist, Foo Dan Waela.
Another abstract, based on a postcard. I think one of the things I enjoyed in doing these, is that even though I gessoed the cards first, they were still quite slick and smooth, so I had to slap the paint on kind of thick and wet, and work fast. I'm usually so stingy with the paint, but this forced me to glop it on. I might have to find a way to do the same at larger sizes.
2009 is here, and I'm back.
I'm starting the year off with a few abstracts I worked up for the Post Card Arts Gang. I like how the loaded colors on the brush bring more lively color combinations together and the quick brush strokes allow some of the under colors to show through, without getting muddy.
Wish I could keep it this loose when trying to capture a scene on location. Not a resolution, just something to aim for this year.
This is a quick copy of a larger painting I did this past Spring. Again, aiming to keep it small and quick, using just one brush. I think it has more energy and immediacy than the big plein air study I'd done earlier.
I'm officially all caught up now. No new paintings since the move, the holidays and lots of other work. Excuses, excuses, excuses.
I'll be back in full swing, soon.
Moving apartments has thrown things into disarray, so I'm going small. Here's the first of a few postcard sized sketches on, well, postcards. I'd actually done a sketch of this 11x14, but pretty much wanted to throw it out the window, literally.
After taking a breather, I decided to tackle it again, only faster and smaller, and without "trying" so hard. Worked much better. Maybe because I'd already worked out what wasn't working, but there's something about a small canvas and using only one size brush that seemed freer and more immediate.
