I've got quite a few things going on in the studio these days. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time in the studio to get 'em all done! I'm making progress, though.
My "Faces of Afghanistan" drawings are on exhibit in Mars Hill University's Weizenblatt Gallery through Dec 11. It's a nice, intimate gallery. We had a good opening reception and I gave a talk to an art history class about Afghanistan and art in a combat zone.
This past week, I finished a commissioned painting. It turned out pretty well. I can't post a picture of it here because it's a Christmas present. Maybe in another month ...
Beyond that, I have several paintings in progress or in the queue. One is a portrait that I just can't get to work. It's a good painting, just not of that specific individual! I'll keep trying for a bit, but might have to start fresh.
There's a landscape painting that's been staring at me for about two months now, telling me to finish it up. I kinda like it so far, but maybe not enough to dive back into it. Doing a good job with this painting means that I have to get my head back into the same place it was when I had the initial vision and started slinging paint. I might have moved on. If so, then I'll slap some oil gesso over it and have a clean panel for something else.
Ten years ago, I did a series of political satire paintings. Almost all have been on the shelf since then. Political paintings are very much tied to a specific time period, and most of them are no longer applicable. Recently, though, the subject matter of one of them has come back to the fore. So I've pulled it off the shelf and am re-working it to make it current and to make it a better painting. Political satire, though, is not a pleasant topic for me. I have to get really pissed off about something to come up with the satirical angle, and I don't like being pissed off all the time, which is one of the reasons I quit doing it ten years ago.
This fall, I've been doing open life painting sessions. We're having a mix of models: male, female, clothed, and nude. Here's one of the most recent results. These are fun sessions - we've got a good group of artists who come and work, and all the models have been interesting to work with. I need to get one of them to come back soon. I changed a few things after the session and need to finish it up, and I have an idea for another painting.
Lastly, I will be mentoring a young high school student over the next few months. She's got the talent and, apparently, the drive to be a good artist. My mission will be to help her find her way. I love doing this sort of thing - working with young art students really charges my batteries.
So that's what's going on in the studio. Except none of it is happening today - this is Thanksgiving, so I'm hanging out around the house with Janis. We're having a great time doing not much of anything. I hope you and yours are having a great Thanksgiving today as well!
My "Faces of Afghanistan" drawings are on exhibit in Mars Hill University's Weizenblatt Gallery through Dec 11. It's a nice, intimate gallery. We had a good opening reception and I gave a talk to an art history class about Afghanistan and art in a combat zone.
This past week, I finished a commissioned painting. It turned out pretty well. I can't post a picture of it here because it's a Christmas present. Maybe in another month ...
Beyond that, I have several paintings in progress or in the queue. One is a portrait that I just can't get to work. It's a good painting, just not of that specific individual! I'll keep trying for a bit, but might have to start fresh.
There's a landscape painting that's been staring at me for about two months now, telling me to finish it up. I kinda like it so far, but maybe not enough to dive back into it. Doing a good job with this painting means that I have to get my head back into the same place it was when I had the initial vision and started slinging paint. I might have moved on. If so, then I'll slap some oil gesso over it and have a clean panel for something else.
Ten years ago, I did a series of political satire paintings. Almost all have been on the shelf since then. Political paintings are very much tied to a specific time period, and most of them are no longer applicable. Recently, though, the subject matter of one of them has come back to the fore. So I've pulled it off the shelf and am re-working it to make it current and to make it a better painting. Political satire, though, is not a pleasant topic for me. I have to get really pissed off about something to come up with the satirical angle, and I don't like being pissed off all the time, which is one of the reasons I quit doing it ten years ago.
This fall, I've been doing open life painting sessions. We're having a mix of models: male, female, clothed, and nude. Here's one of the most recent results. These are fun sessions - we've got a good group of artists who come and work, and all the models have been interesting to work with. I need to get one of them to come back soon. I changed a few things after the session and need to finish it up, and I have an idea for another painting.
Lastly, I will be mentoring a young high school student over the next few months. She's got the talent and, apparently, the drive to be a good artist. My mission will be to help her find her way. I love doing this sort of thing - working with young art students really charges my batteries.
So that's what's going on in the studio. Except none of it is happening today - this is Thanksgiving, so I'm hanging out around the house with Janis. We're having a great time doing not much of anything. I hope you and yours are having a great Thanksgiving today as well!
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