Laurie's Drawing Board - Painting

Black Lab - The Sequel

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:30:07 -0500

Just a quick post of the latest Black Lab study. Still trying to get comfortable going really dark while keeping good value contrasts.

Black Lab Study

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 29 May 2008 07:41:50 -0500

Well, this time it is a Black Lab. The challenge is the short black coat, as opposed to the the light wavy one of the golden retriever. And the other challenge I set was to do it in sections, as it often recommended. Usually I build up the entire piece as one with the idea I can keep values in line with each other. I also started it as a 12 x 16 to try a larger piece as well. Mistake! way to many challenges. So I've started over, this time it is 8 x 10 on smooth bristol.

Progress for this weekend. Been trying to identify those really dark darks and put them in. I think I'm still a little tentative. Sheesh, this has turned into a tough project for me! Good stretch tho.

My hand needs a break! Ok, there are levels of dark I wasn't aware of. I think this is getting closer. I'm finding as I go darker in one area, it makes it clear the need to do so in another place. So I've sorta given up on the one section at a time approach and am just working on value across the drawing.

Have to get off to work now... rats! I would love to keep working today. One of those days it just feels good to keep at it. Oh well, gotta pay the bills, so off I go.

I think I need to let it sit a while. Working around the glare has been a bit of a challenge now. I think I read somewhere here about using a mat fix to cut the glare. I think I'll give that a shot this afternoon and see if it help.

So, my crit... hmmm.. trying to keep the contract between highlights, midtones and darks has been tough. Keep finding the highlights too light as I pushed the darks. But overall it has been a great exercise!

First Painting Done Since Coming Home

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:00:23 -0500

Well, it has been five months since returning from Ireland. Finally finished another painting, the first since returning. It is another of the road trip paintings. I think I've a couple more in me before moving on to something else...

Donegal Bridge

As with the others it is 8 x 13 acrylic on prepared matboard.

So here are the other two completed while still in Ireland last spring.

Road to Donegal

Road to Lough Barra

Last of the Artwork.... For Now

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Mon, 28 May 2007 07:34:55 -0500

So, I have 3 days before having to button up packing. So I could start something.... but I've decided no more from here. Time to just tidy up, relax, and digest what I've been up to the last few months.

So, here is the last piece I worked on. I will call it finished.

Morning Breeze

Lough Barra

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 24 May 2007 08:18:00 -0500

Another acrylic 9 x 14 done. From the trip through Donegal last month.

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Mon, 21 May 2007 08:36:50 -0500

Latest work.... Road to Glenveagh. It is an acrylic about 8 x 13.

I've put away the oils with less then 2 weeks remaining before I have to pack up. What I have done needs to dry some. The school cafe has offered to display some of my pieces tho, so I'll be leaving a few here, hopefully they will sell... fingers crossed.

Grace and Elegance - Finished

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 17 May 2007 06:06:19 -0500

Ok.. he is done...

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Tue, 15 May 2007 11:20:53 -0500

New stuff.... both unfinished at this point but thought I'd get them up here any way...

A little frustrated... no a lot frustrated with the current landscape stuff, so I have decided to go back to horses....

May 10 - Update on work in progress

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Fri, 11 May 2007 04:15:23 -0500

Just some pics of work in progress.... the sheep is nearly complete, I think...

Composit from the trip to Donegal.

hmmmm.... trying to stay veerrrrry loose on this... find I have to be in the right mood to work on it...

The ancient cross at Columcille's church in Donegal.... getting there...

Return of Red Deer to the wilds. My hosts talked about the increasing number of Red Deer in the area. This si near the Glenveagh park, the backside actually... The red deer are so nearly like elk, yet different, as I bring it up I'm curious how difficult it will be to depict the difference..

Red Barn is a study from an artist support website I'm finding very useful... The room is the view from where I stand at my easel looking into the next studio space...

... and this.... hmmmm.... we'll see what happens here....

Studio and New Stuff

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:27:09 -0500

Here is a quick look at my studio space and some of the new pieces I'm working on....

My studio space

Color sketches

Evening ruins near Glenneigh

Tree study

Donegal spring near Columcille church - unfinished

Wild Donegal - unfinished

'Nuther Painting Done

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 08:13:43 -0500

Still working small, this is about 9 x 12, maybe a little larger. And still acrylic. I'm determined to get a handle on using them as I think they will be better for outdoor studies.....

Latest painting

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:36:00 -0500

So, from my travels through county Meath, I came up with this painting. It is the first I've done to completion in acrylic. I am slowly starting to get a better feel for using acrylic rather than oil... tho I still prefer oils.

Life Drawing turned into Painting

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:35:18 -0500

So the last Life Drawing class was Tuesday. We were to have a long pose so I thought I'd give my paints a shot. Still trying to get my head back into painting since coming back.

The result...

Finished Paintings

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:05:29 -0600

None are titled yet.... but I wanted to get these up before going home for my extended break...

Current Paintings

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:43:13 -0600

Just a quick entry.... THE SUN IS SHINING!

But that isn't what the entry is for. Here are the pieces I've been working on most recently... in various stages of completion.

Doors, thresholds, portals, windows, steps, all seem to have something to do with seeing through or going through, a point of making a decision maybe....