Category: General

February 10, 2011 The Minor Skirmishes

Here are some very small studies that I’ve done in pastel…handy for working out location and composition ideas.
From Makapu'u Cliffs

Painted on 8 x 10″ or 9 x 12″ papers, completed in one or perhaps two sessions that last as long as the light effect does.

Consolidating the subject as simply as possible, I get to “try on” an idea or examine an aspect of nature with a minimal investment. At some later point if I’m stuck for an inspiration, referring to these pieces jogs my recollection.

…as well as offering an opportunity to accomplish some important work on days that are otherwise too busy.

February 1, 2011

Got a running start to the new month at 7:30 this morning, with a new pastel painting in the works. I was sketching some new locations two days ago, and wandered into this familiar area with a fresh eye and perspective. Prepared a 20 x 16″ surface last evening, and was ready to go this morning. P2010001 This is the setup before the light, which I’d anticipated, came over the hills behind me. It’s my favorite time to block in the shapes.

P2010003

The full visual effect, towards the end of my session. It’s a pretty good start, I hope to get another chance tomorrow.

January 27, 2011 – Almost home

Makapu'u Cliffs at Makapu’u 18 x 24″, oil on linen

A couple more morning’s work since the last post. I’m ready to live on this cliff…I love it here.

Today’s progress

As the painting awakens, I’m keeping in mind my ambition to get as much of this painted via color and tonal spots with as little extraneous noodling as possible.

Looking Down and Out

I’ve spent the first part of the new year sketching in pastel with an eye towards some new subjects for oil and pastel. One that I’ve gotten a start on is a difficult morning piece, looking downward and across from a high and somewhat precarious vantage point. The light effect, early morning about an hour after dawn, is brief but very exciting!

8 AM easel setup, Makapu'u

My setup seen from the side. Since gusts of wind are an issue up here, the setup is low to the ground, and I’m staying seated.

P1200003 This is my viewpoint, about twenty minutes before my actual light affect occurs. The main lines of my composition are drawn in with thin paint, and the next step is blocking in the main shapes with approximate colors and values, as close as I’m able to get them.

My morning’s work, first day. I’m going to have to gain some balance on the right side of the composition, but the movement seems good. This was shot afterwards indoors, so the colors in the image are somewhat lighter and warm.

Pastel at the beach

Wednesday, I got out on a beautiful pair of late afternoons to catch the light and color of one of my favorite locations. I had some company on my second visit, my former student Zak Smith and his girlfriend Britany happened by, art students on holiday from San Francisco.

We were then joined by two other young artists visiting from Seattle, Zack and Alaina. I’d brought a French easel oil setup for Zack to try out, and we spent a pleasant hour or two painting and watching the sea go through it’s transition into evening. It was magic, and especially nice to see Zack enjoying what I believe was his first opportunity to paint the ocean.

This small pastel is what I managed to pull together.

Sandy Untitled pastel on prepared rag board, 12 x 16″

Divers at Halona Cove

This pastel is finally finished, except for the signature which will be added after placing the picture into the frame. I decided that I’d try painting it on a soft Rives printmaking paper, with a very satisfying middle value olive-beige tone. It worked well. The paper took the color very nicely, and allowed for sufficient repeat applications of pastel. Just a touch of fixative was introduced in the darkest darks and developed lights.

divers at halona cove 650 Divers at Halona Cove pastel 14 x18″

The subject itself is one I’ve been working with for years, and the challenges are tremendous for a plein-air approach. Most everything is in movement, and the surges of water and sometimes wind can be powerful and unpredictable. Because of this, the wave effects have to be determined in advance, and then simplified. Also, it’s very easy to overplay the already beautiful colors of the water, so I prefer to make a point of following nature’s lead closely by revealing the wonderful combinations of colors already presented as truthfully as I can.

DHC pastel pre

Preliminary 9 x 12″

The first days I had on this piece were remarkable for the clarity of the light…as with so many things in life, good weather seems like it should last indefinitely, though of course I knew it wouldn’t. We eventually were locked down by heavy rains for many days after the first few afternoons, so the final picture was eventually adjusted indoors, from memory.

Redrawing a portrait sketch

This is an example of something that I think I’ll be doing more often…a redrawing from a failed piece.

The story, briefly told, is that I had a good start and a dismal failure on a drawing from the model, done in a drawing group I attend. When I stepped well back from the drawing, a three hour pose, I realized that there were some mighty awful passages that I’d allowed to get by. In the interest of moving quickly and with overconfidence in my skills, I’d ignored some of the most basic fundamentals by working almost horizontally, working sitting, not stepping back frequently, ending up with distortions, picky handling, and a piecemeal drawing. It was awful, and I was surprised…I’d thought that I had something much better.

You won’t see a post of that drawing here. It was abysmal, and I need to help make the world a better place but not showing bad things.

Samrdclk

Humbled but not wishing to give up entirely, I decided that the solution was to make a redrawing, using the bad piece as a model and setting up the new piece alongside it, literally on the same drawing board, and then sort of sight-sizing a new version in my studio, away from the model. After all, I liked the look of the subject, and the image of her posing was fresh enough in my mind that, in a couple hours, I managed the piece you see here, which is one that I can live with. Truth be told, I already have an appropriate handmade frame for this portrait, one which is crying for a red chalk drawing, and part of the motivation for this was to have a new portrait sketch to show. Through it all, I guess it’s healthy to pick up from a little disaster and make something out of it that’s better.

I have yet another portrait drawing, one that I’m already happy with, which received some water damage, and I may do the same redrawing process with it.