Third Place

I have been spending a lot of time working on various Commissions. I have 3 currently underway and several others I need to get started on. It is great to be busy. This is a progress shot of a commission that I am waiting for areas to dry before I can finish some final touches.

I have also made time for some painting from life. This is a painting done during a 2.5 hour pose painted with only Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black and White. I have been enjoying using this limited palette and it helped make the process of this painting much more simple than if I had 3 or 4 times as many colors to contend with. The photograph has a lot of glare, because the paint was so thick and so dark.

My Painting of my grandmother and my daughter titled "Arms of Experience" took third place at the Art Space Herndon 6th annual Portrait Competition show "Expressions" I wore my typical boots to the reception but I did buy a new dress to go with them. I realized that four generations were represented in this painting because two were in it, I painted it and my Father made the frame for me. It is made of beautiful black walnut.

Torrit Gray and Progress

Monochromatic paintings are such a great way to explore tonal relationships without worrying about color. This painting of Maggie was completed with black white and Torrit Gray. The photograph I used as a reference was taken by Steven Johnson. www.stevendavidjohnson.com 

Maggie

 

 Progress shots

 Another painting in progress, this time working with a limited palette of Cad red, yellow Ochre, Payne's grey and white. Still a lot to to on this painting, but I love the shadows and the expression.

Ivy with Zorn Palette

 

 

I have been wanting to experiment with the Zorn Palette so tonight I worked on a small 10x10 painting.  Please excuse the image quality, all were taken at night in my studio.

I started with a  drawing transfer using oil paint. I had never tried this method and had just watched David Grey's instructional video on the process. Next time I would chose to make the oil much lighter because It has been difficult to cover all of those lines.

Next I blocked in the shade side, and stated with modeling the form on the light side.

Here I am starting to work into the dark side.

My palette in Process, Colors used were Titanium White, Flake White Replacement, Cad Red light, Yellow Ocher, Ivory Black and I also added some Paynes Grey to get some blue tint in the shirt area.

Completed Painting but Under terrible light. Will post a better photo soon. I keep on finding little touches to make but will not work on it after tonight. In all it took about 3 hours. So wonderful to be able to work wet into wet on the whole project.