I'm sure I mentioned somewhere something about doing quick and loose little paintings to play around with the medium and have a little fun. I have a small space in the corner of my room which has been great for drawing, but lacks the space and storage for painting projects. Normally, it wouldn't take to much time to set up a quick little still life, scoop some paint onto my Sta-Wet palette, and get down to business. But, throw in household duties, homeschooling duties, helping Grandma run some errands, dentist appointments, soccer games...well, a 1-day activity turned into several days.
Day 1 - I managed to put together the still life before I had to run off somewhere. And, a day or so later, I quickly sketched the shapes onto my pre-primed paper (I had primed several pieces of paper weeks ago, so at least I didn't have to do that).
A couple days later, I had to come up with a solution to paint storage - I have no place in my room for the pint and quart size Nova Color containers. So, I grabbed some small Gladware (or whatever brand) containers and transferred the colors I'd be working with. I have a plant stand to set the palette on next to the table. I was able to soak the palette paper and get it set up before having to call it quits.
Finally, yesterday afternoon, I actually got to paint. I had envisioned a quick painting that would have beautiful color and contrast in relatively few strokes - HA! My reality is that I layer and layer, push and pull, building values...maybe now that I've practiced the shapes and colors, I could put something together that's looser without losing the color and contrast that I like. Perhaps I'll do that next.
Anyway, I think this is my first non-illustration project since I don't know when. I'm excited about more exploration - I just hope it doesn't take so many days to do one little painting...but, it probably will!
The latest work in the garage involved a study of the chef. After drawing and painting the original proposal, tracing/adjusting the figure on the panel, and now drawing and painting the study, I went back and looked at the chef in my sketchbook. I did this when I was just playing around and brainstorming. Drawing is more my strength and the sketch is much looser and fun.
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| Original sketchbook "brainstorm" for the chef |
The biggest difficulty and motivation behind the study was to figure out the right hand gesture. But, since the study is small, I can only work out so much. I kind of wish I'd gone back and looked at the sketchbook designs before I started painting - I might have taken the figures in a slightly different direction. But, I also know that I'll always find something to second guess myself and I'm better off letting go of some things and letting the painting develop as it will (for sanity reasons). The truth is that I'm learning a lot every day that I'm out there painting. And, it's far from done - much more detail and "whimsy" will follow.
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| Photocopy of chef panel used in the projector and recent color study |
My biggest lesson on this panel is the realization that the yellow that I purchased (which I chose because it was the most lightfast and permanent version of the yellow I needed) is probably the most transparent paint I picked up. That explains why I've gone through more of it than any of the other paint colors. It takes a lot more of it to cover anything and to create the mixtures that I've used for the various foliage.
In the past, I've had frustration with acrylic paint in general - mainly, the short drying time making which meant I had to remix colors frequently and the fact that it dries a slightly different color than it goes on. But, with the Nova Color paints, the Sta-Wet Palette, and all the time spent working on this project, I can safely say that acrylics and I have made peace. In fact, I plan to work with acrylic paint for more of my future illustration projects.
I guess there's an alternate universe in my garage. It's full of giant strawberries and grapes, and in this place, there is no time. I step out here to do a little painting and the next thing I know, it's midnight! For a little while, I was joined by husband, Smitty, and the youngest kidlet (who are now asleep).
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| That's Smitty on bass and Lindy (the pirate) on tennis racket. |
I'm glad the weekend is here because the 4th panel will require some time - lots of grape leaves and clusters of grapes and figures for which I have not mixed any paint colors yet. I knew the people would slow me down - as an illustrator, I've always been able to take liberties with the way I depict subjects like people. But, I don't want to go too cartoony for the mural - the composition is already rooted in fantasy, and I'd like it to have a foot in reality.
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| Study - some adjustments to be made still, but you get the idea |
Soooooo, I've been working on some small studies beforeI tackle the certain characters or scenarios. This evening, I spent time on the Dionysus character - the Greek god of wine and winemaking (or Bacchus, if you happen to be Roman). He's the guy up in the trellis among the grapes (in case you were wondering). I haven't done a lot of figurative painting in a looooong time and I need to brush-up on my color mixing when it comes to flesh tones, highlights, and shadows.
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Thanks to the person who invented this - I have now made peace
with acrylic paints. |
I also wanted to try my
Masterson Sta-Wet palette that I got for when I'm working on detail work and don't need to mix containerfuls of paint. One of the things that has always driven me nuts about acrylic paint is how quickly it dries and how I constantly seem to be remixing paint (I used oils in college - they stay wet forever). Well, so far the verdict is AWESOME. I never once had to remix a color because it had dried to uselessness in the (apparently) many hours I worked on this.
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