Abstract Moon

This little bit of craziness was SO challenging!  The moon has been out in full force lately, so I've chosen a spot at the pond for an abstract nocturne!  I am SO not abstract by nature!  Pushing the masses into broken spots of color sounded like an easy thing to do....but I had to keep laying paint, overlapping and abstracting the shapes that constantly kept emerging!  This required so much thought, whereas my normal paintings slip off the brush with very little "brain engagement".  I guess this is part of learning, a painful, time consuming part.  I could have painted three paintings in the time it took for this dip into madness!  Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I did sign this, but nobody will believe I painted it.  I will now return to my sketchbook for a little normally to restore my soul!  This crazy painting is the 1466th in 1466 days.

Acrylic on panel, 9x12
purchase here

Roses in Pink

Roses in Pink
Oil on canvas, 7x5

After a couple of weeks of little sleep, and a very busy Saturday, I arrived home so tired.  Normally full of energy - no matter what - my hours are taking their toll tonight.  I have been doing portraits, and had already planned out a James Dean portrait - but I no longer had the preferred panels primed!  Darn!  I will not settle for less, so I am resting in my safe zone, bright and energetic roses, using my new catalyst tool.  This is the first time I’ve used it on canvas, and the result is kind of cool.  I don’t normally like the woven texture of canvas or linen, but when this tool skims over the surface leaving dark little pockets under the pinks, it is very effective!  I will need to get some priming done before I return to those portraits......maybe tomorrow.  Painting number 1151 in 1151 days.

Audrey

Audrey
Oil on masonite, 6x6

I think Audrey Hepburn was one of the most beautiful women.  She had an inner beauty that simply radiated.  Using one of the primed panels from yesterday, I am using mainly my brushes to paint her likeness.  This was a conscious choice, it evolved as I painted.  The soft planes of her face did not call for the harsh lines of the palette knife.  I did use the knife and catalyst, but reservedly, even blending some of those strokes out with a brush.  I used one of my new brushes from myartspace.com, and it worked like a charm.  Since I am working in black, it did stain the bristles.  This doesn’t worry me, I do buy my brushes to work the heck out of them!  I’ve only used black and white here, no other tints.  I just let my heart guide me in these matters, no use to try to think it out, I’m using the right side of my brain here, not the left!  Painting number 1150 in 1150 days.

Ringo

Ringo
Oil on masonite, 6x8

in progress- texture

Today - I am painting on a crazy textured panel!!  Why?  Because when I reached for the surface I desired, I found that I was out!  For this series, I have gessoed masonite, then brushed over in a cross hatch fashion with gel gloss medium.  This results in a rougher than normal texture - perfect for cool stroke variations with the knife and catalyst.  This crazy panel I had primed so long ago - and I think I knifed on heavy gesso, already tinted in a pale yellow, and then pressed saran wrap over - lifting up to reveal the wonderful texture.  I never used it for anything!  I was scared, because it IS so different......but today, I needed texture, and so this had to be the day for jumping into the craziness!  I have used only ivory black paint.  I like the warm yellow surface of this panel, so I have reserved my “whites” - or “pale yellows” in this case!  I pulled the blade over this texture, which left the black on all the peaks.  I had to use a stiff bristle brush to get paint down into the valleys, and dry brushed to get the shading done.  It is a little bold - and I like it!!  Bold and crazy is invigorating!!  Painting number 1149 in 1149 days :)

Mick

Mick
Oil on masonite, 6x6

Another day, another icon!  The planes of Mick Jagger’s face are SO interesting, it made this portrait an adventure in pushing and pulling the paint!  I did sketch out his masses with my brush and thin, black paint.  I have been jumping in and painting all the masses, and letting the features develop, but I felt a more traditional route was important here.  Using mainly titanium white and ivory black, I have tinted those shades ever so slightly with naples yellow and ultramarine blue (just to bump up the cool and warm temperatures).  I love his expressive eyes - it is like looking into the soul of an artist!  I was asked today what inspires me.  Life inspires me.  The beauty of nature, the love I feel, even the people and music in my life, endlessly inspire me.  So many wonderful  things to capture, so little time to paint!  Painting number 1148 in 1148 days.

Norma Jean

Norma Jean
Oil on masonite, 6x6

This was the demo in painting class today, an oil painting in black and white of a young Marilyn Monroe.  To gain the likeness, I used a brush to mark out the features.  Next, I painted in the background and masses, using the largest brush possible.  The features gave me a little trouble - Marilyn was not cooperating!  As with all portrait work, I pushed the paint a little here and pulled it there, until I was happy.  I then went in with some thick, juicy paint and my knives and catalyst, making marks wherever the whim took me. I chose black and white, but I am now wondering how cool a color version might be..... This painting took brushes, knives and a catalyst to complete and is my 1147th painting in as many days.

Young Elvis

Young Elvis
Oil on masonite, 6x6

I started out this week painting flowers with my new Princeton Catalysts.  I have now gone from flowers to rock and roll with the last two paintings!  I have never painted in this theme before, and it is super fun!  It gives me a rush to jump into new methods and new subjects!  These last paintings have all been painted on rough finished panels, which I had intended for acrylic portraiture, but the top coat I gave them of gloss medium with a rough synthetic brush was just too rough for the acrylics, the paint simply did not flow over the deep nap. Now that I'm using oils and catalysts for these portraits, the heavy texture is a bonus - allowing the blades to pull over the top, leaving interesting marks!  SO FUN!  And, I am really enjoying the subject matter!  Who knew? Painting number 1146 in 1146 days :)

John

John
Oil on masonite, 6x6

Lately, I have been longing to paint portraits with my new catalysts, using strong contrast.  After pouring over photos to familiarize myself with the planes of John Lennon’s face, I then started laying paint.  I did use my brush to mark out the values, and then came in with the catalyst to drop in heavy strokes of paint.  The effect is rich and thick, and very expressive.  These catalysts have shapes similar to palette knives, with one big difference - they are crafted of flexible silicone.  They scrape off paint better than any other tool, and lay down strokes like a palette knife.  I really love the drama of the strong black and white - and I’ve tinted the brightest highlights with just a touch of naples yellow, to warm up the temperature.  SO FUN!  I want to jump right into a series in this theme!  Who knows where tomorrow will take me?  Painting number 1145 in 1145 days.

Peonies in Pink

Peonies in Pink
Oil on masonite, 6x6

Another day of playing with my new Princeton Catalysts - and the thick, textural strokes they make!  I find I am liking the #6 head the most, it seems to work in a natural way when making "palette knife" like strokes.  I have some others coming, too - and I can hardly wait to experiment with them!  These are exceptional to use with the thick, buttery oils.  It is a bit like spreading icing!!  I have so many peonies in the flower beds, and here I am working from last year’s photo reference.  Hard to believe these beauties will be bursting in just two months!  This painting makes 1144 in 1144 days.

Palette Knife Peonies

Palette Knife Peonies
Oil on masonite, 6x4

With temperatures soaring in the 70’s, it seems that spring is unfolding around me!  I simply had to paint flowers today - and peonies are one of my favorites!  I am using my new Princeton Catalyst and painting this in palette knife fashion.  I love the flexible way this “knife” moves across the surface!   It has been so long since I’ve slathered on thick, juicy strokes - and it feels good!  Gamblin’s “radiant magenta” is a real stand out on these petals - the very opaque paint lays on top of the edges for petals that really come to life.  This painting makes 1143 in 1143 days!

Sunrise Sailboat - palette knife

Sunrise Sailboat - palette knife
Oil on wood, 6x6

Well, I guess I should really begin by admitting that I didn’t really use a palette knife, I used a Princeton Catalyst, #6 in the 15mm size.  I LOVE how the flexible head pushed the paint into the texture of the wood panel!  This is one of those panels I primed, but ended up with too heavy a texture for the portrait work I intended them for.  I used only the catalyst for this seascape, and it was fun!  It does work differently than the normal knife, more fluid in it’s movement across the surface.  I can’t wait to experiment more with this tool and more like it!  Painting number 1135 in 1135 days.