Viking Progress

I like the sky in this piece although I see something wrong. Just above the ship are two dark clouds. They are too similar and two is a boring number. I always try to have odd numbers of things in a painting. 1, 3, 5, 7 are interesting numbers for clouds or trees, etc. Even numbers are boring to look at. So, I can add a cloud or take one out.

I am happy with the way the viking is coming along. Good beginning on his face and chainmail. The ground is just a wash of color to keep me from obsessing about all the white area not painted. I will work on it again shortly.

The model for the viking is my brother-in-law, also the same model for Mercury/Hermes.

Minerva Back In Studio

Well, Minerva finally got enough rest and I have laid a glaze over the books and Mona Lisa to decrease the amount of attention they draw. No pictures today. Will post a photo after today's session.

I have been tweaking two small commission pieces for a client. Amazing how right the customer can be sometimes. It was suggested that I darken a few shadows on one piece and after doing this, WOW, the customer was so right. A greater difference in the values of the painting made the whole painting so much more appealing. I feel that sometimes I am too close to a work, to the point that I miss something.

Another Background Begins

Remember a few posts back, I had done a drawing for a scene with a Viking killing a Monk? Well as always, the drawing was redone with some major changes to the composition. I needed more action in the scene and so I pushed the Monk back more into a falling pose, extended his arms out, the bottom hand trying to break his fall and the upper hand trying to ward off the blow from the hatchet. I also pushed all the action down to the lower portion of the scene, so Icould leave room at the top for any copy a publisher would want to include in a book cover design......open space. Finally satisfied with the design, I took the drawing to Staples, got my copy and headed home to fix it to the masonite board. You know how I hate backgrounds......well I did this sky just after doing the background for Mercury/Hermes. Two in one day. Now I don't have to ruin another painting day with more background work. I already see the background is not as dramatic as I envision it and will probably go back into it tomorrow and punch up the colors and drama. Oh and remember the new color(Sepia) I have been experimenting with? Well, it was great for the sea behind the Monk.

I Hate Backgrounds

Somehow I have gotten this photo twice. Not sure how, but Whatever. I dislike putting in the background of a newpainting. It feels like it takes me forever and then when its done, I am not sure if I will be happy with it once the painting is really underway. Also, I love to do the details and can't wait to get into the finer work. To some degree, I am a bit hyperactive I think.

Mercury Begins

I spent today getting this drawing onto the canvas. I used a thinned down sepia oil paint. I normally use burnt umber, but I have only recently discovered this color and have been working with it to see what it can do for my style and technique.

I already see that I may have his arm too long or not thick enough. It may be the hand outstretched creating an optical illusion. Tomorrow with fresh eyes, I will see what needs tweaking.

New Painting

OK, Minerva needs a rest so that I can do some glazes. After that I will finish her face and arms. The paint underneath needs to dry and I tend to overdo stuff. So she is in the guestroom resting today. I would like to start a new painting today and just can't choose which will be next. Either my brother in law as Mercury/Hermes or The Vikings attacking the monks. You will just have to wait until my next posting to find out.

Books & Background

I worked on the books yesterday and gave the background a second layer to enhance the color. Looking at the books on the monitor here, I realize they are too high in value. I need to tone down the white pages with a glaze as soon as the paint is dry enough to take it. Oh and I started to add some color to Mona Lisa against my better instincts. I originally was going to make it just a grey tone like The Thinker. A friend asked if I would do it in color, which got me to thinking maybe I would. I feel the color has drawn too much attention to Mona. I plan to tone it down also. Maybe tomorrow. Today, I am finishing a small commission piece.