Dane Paul Portrait in Clay

The sculpture class is really enjoying the model, Dane Paul. I am lecturing and demonstrating the portrait, while some of my advanced students are welcome to sculpt the full figure.

Here is day one of the portrait.  The focus is the skull as well as the neck and suggested shoulder area.

More photos to come.  Check back soon.

Chucks Garden, painting on location

Today was a beautiful and warm day today in Southern California so I took the opportunity to go out this morning and paint in a fellow artist's garden.  Chuck is not only a fine painter but a magnificent gardener.  Below is the painting I made of his garden.

Pear and Grape Painting

This is for my painting students to see the different steps in this painting.  Sorry the photos are not that good.  I didn't have my camera and  took them with my phone.   I used WOil paint, which is a water soluble oil paint.  First there is the BLOCK IN.  I started this by covering the canvas with Burnt Sienna, thinned down with water; lifting to the lights.  Keep the paint thin.

Then I painted the dark underpainting using Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue in the background. Starting to introduce Cad. Orange.  Notice the reflective light on the bowl is similar to the light in the background, still in the "Dark" family.   On the pedestal I greyed the blue with Burnt Umber and a little white.  The darks of the grapes are Ultramarine Blue and Cad. Yellow light. 

Continued with the grapes that are in light and the lights of the pears and bowl.  These are the simple steps, sorry the color isn't quite right in the photos.   Wish I had more time to paint, but that is it for now. 

Doheny Escape

Influenced by the recent occurrence of rain with the beautiful sky it brings, I finished painting "Doheny Escape" by adding a sky with clouds and afternoon lights on the trees.  This area of Doheny State Park is one of my favorite places to walk because it brings me peace and inspiration. My goal in this painting was to capture that feeling while making a magical journey.

"Doheny Escape"  Oil 18x24

Doheny- taking time to relax

The challenging part of this painting for me is that I have no real useful photo reference because the winter has taken its toll with storms and a lot of the vegetation is dead or dormant.  On the other hand, it leaves me open to express the feelings of peacefulness that this area represents to me as I take my walk at the end of the day. The egret makes it magical to me.  It seems impossible that such a beautiful and exotic bird could be living free, here in Orange County, CA., with all the hustle and bustle.

Doheny Underpainting

"Doheny, untitled"  Under painting  2/16/11

Finally, had a chance to get back to the studio to paint on "Doheny untitled."  I woke up and said to myself, "today is going to be a day of fun," and headed for the studio.  It was a great day.  I do walk at Doheny regularly for inspiration.  Winter has taken it's toll on the beach and things do look a little different, but still beautiful.  Thanks to Paula for her supportive comments, which reminded me to post my progress.

Painting Class-negative and positive shape, among other things

Yesterdays painting class was the study of negative and positive shapes using the subject of flower.  Students brought in a flower to study and arrange in a composition.  Some brought in a flower while others worked from photos. Above is the demonstration, starting with a block in using cadmium red progressing to local color.  I found this a great subject because of the interesting shapes the forms made. 
 

This is the finished painting.

"Dance of the Cyclamen"   Oil   9x12

I used painting gel in the background to give texture. This was a fun painting...feels happy, like dancing.