From beginning to end.

It is always interesting to me to look at the full evolution of a painting.  Sorry to those of you who have seen these and don't really care to see them again but I am putting them all in one post for my own viewing and analysis.

The difference in the last two photos is from taking the picture inside vs. outside. It is amazing how different the lighting makes the painting look.

 

 

I began this nursing painting and have realized after working on about half of it that I should have probably done a background layer of color to unify the painting. I need to darken the whole face, which became obvious after adding the dark hair and background. It can be so hard to judge tone before all of the context is in place.

I am hoping that this painting develops along standard lines of high hopes, frustration, fatalism, hope and then delight.  I often feel like giving up on paintings mid progress, and if I manage to push past the issues they do often work out.

Finishing details and new starts

"Lucille" is down to details so changes come in increments and are sometimes hard to notice. Still some work on the glasses and eyes needed. Also touch ups on the afghan.

I decided to restart a painting that was giving me troubles. The first attempt was done on Masonite panel and the slick texture was very difficult when trying to blend. The canvas is so much better suited to my technique.

"Special Touch" does not yet have paint but I love this composition and the tenderness between mom and nursing babe.

Lucille

It can be so hard to get back to painting when the brushes gut put aside and the paints dry up. After a vacation to Florida, which afforded an opportunity for more beach pictures, it took me a while to get back into painting. There are a lot of things that seem to eat up my time if I don't make painting a top priority. 

I seem to always have something else that needs to be done. Unpacking, endless cleaning (how can kids manage to spill milk on the floor 3 times on the day I have moped the floor very thoroughly), remodeling a bathroom, laundry, books to read to kids, homeschooling nursing. Seriously how do I ever find time to paint? This evening I just left the mess where it was and got to work on the painting.