Demonstration Progress

These images show the progress of the painting I began as a demonstration for the Eastern Shore Art League last week, prior to a one day workshop.
The beginning sketch can be found on an earlier blog.


This one is the first layer of color - mostly reds and yellows, with some blue as a second layer beginning to cover the red. I intended to do a blue dog, and I like red underneath to make the blue richer and deeper in the dark areas.

This is adding more blue, bringing up details.

Here I have decided I liked the red instead of the blue.
But the background green was too dark.
Although I like the effect of that dark green
under this cobalt teal and brilliant blue mixture.

Monday Morning Questions

Well, I lied. Not on purpose. But the painting I was going to work on I did not. I began a new piece and continued another for the demonstration yesterday. Here is one. Thank you to those who came to watch. Some of you had some very good questions.

So now is a good time to address the questions I am most often asked.

How long does it take you to do a painting?
How long depends on a number of factors. The easiest to address are the size of the canvas and the scope of the painting. The larger and more detailed, the longer it may take.
Along with that comes my personal issues as an artist. Do I enjoy the painting? Is it of my choosing ( or is it a client's preference if it is a commission?) Are there things not working in the composition? And, of course, difficulty.

There is no magic formula or "how-to" when I paint. I've been asked "how do you paint a nose?" Well, I LOOK at the nose and I paint the one I see. Seems simple, but not always, and the bottom line is, for me, that I don't use any step by step "rules" when doing an object.

So the answer is - I don't know how long a painting may take. Some may be done in a matter of days, some weeks and even others, over a year. If I set a painting aside and wait, rather than struggle through and fight with it, it can often be a much better painting in the long run. If my signature goes onto a painting, I have to feel like it's the best I could do with that piece.
Thankfully, I have some very patient commission clients who understand.

How do you choose your color?
Totally random. At least in the beginning. Rarely do I ever envision a finished piece. I pretty much paint from my gut and I "listen" to the painting. Once I'm into it, of course I make thoughtful choices about how colors interact and mix, but to start? Totally random.

How do you decide on a price?
That's a tough one for every artist. After years of arbitrary choices, I decided to price per square inch. It makes sense and is consistent.
I choose a bottom line that the local and regional market will bear and yet compares to regional and national artists who also do what I do. I know what my customers will pay. I know what I need to balance the bills and remain fair to my clientele. It's a fine balancing act.

Demo Sunday at Art Works

Want to see what I do? Watch me at work? Have questions about acrylic, color or painting?

I will be doing a 45 minute demonstration of my acrylic painting style at Art Works Studios and Galleries. Sunday, March 22 promptly at noon. Come see. I'll have info about my painting classes available. After, venture over to my studio at Plant Zero, right next door. Just follow me after cleanup. Or stay and watch one of the other dozen artists demonstrating their wonderful work and techniques. See the schedule and get directions at www.artworksrichmond.com.

I'll have this painting in progress at the demonstration.

Other Things

Welcome to the new followers to my blog. Thanks for joining in.

This is gonna be a rather boring addition. No, wait, let me find an image to post. Images are always fun.
There it is. I began this, oh a year ago or so? I was working on some pieces for a demonstration I'm doing soon, and this was calling from the corner table, so I pulled this out to complete it while I had my palette open. This is my Gracie girl - official name Gracie Allen, also known as the daddy's girl ( and oh yes she very much is), pooh, poo-pie, and assorted other names. There is no title for this painting yet.

I'm a little scattered as I get organized for a workshop I'm teaching in a couple of days. I find things as I search for other things, and get distracted. Then I remember to catch up on even more other things. But, I shall be ready and even overly prepared by the time I leave. Such is the result of last minute pressure.

I haven't forgotten to finish up the tale of the collaboration. It's coming.

End of a Normal Week

It's Friday the 13th and other than a dog having an icky personal moment, which I shall not describe, it has been neither unlucky nor lucky. The week has been quite productive, so regardless of all that is left to do, I feel a sense of accomplishment. whoohoo!

For those few who wonder how my time is spent:
I've completed a painting begun quite some time ago, am catching up with those on the wait list and those wanting to be on the wait list, have taught two classes this week, am prepping for a workshop next week and I took temporary possession of a pup for FETCH a cure, all while doing commission work interspersed. For grins, here are two of my "in process" commissions, waiting to get back on the easel. And yes, if you have been following faithfully, the bone is nearly finished in the Vegas painting. :-)

March 10 - Almost Finished: The Collaboration

Here we are, nearing completion of the project. We're both tickled with what's been happening. Mike, who paints loosely and by instinct, is learning application techniques and tightening up his style. In the meantime, I'm getting freer and less deliberate and enjoying letting things happen. It doesn't matter to us at this point whether the paintings are wonderful or not. It's been a valuable experience for both of us and we learned that we make a great team, even when we would disagree. The process became what we both looked forward to each weekend, and if some wonderful things happened on canvas along the way, we were even more excited about the day's work.

These images are near the end of the project. We've gotten to a point where now the challenge is to make them both complete. We'll go through a few more stages and this is where we really did collaborate. We'd both stand in front of the same canvas and one might add paint, the other alter or remove it, or repeat that application. Sometimes we'd throw paint at the same time or teach one another something new to try. We honestly had so much fun working on these two paintings.

The outcome was that both went to the show in Portsmouth. Mike and I decided to do more collaborative work. Our first step to that end was to rent one large studio together and move from our smaller studios nearby. We each do our own work there and we're mulling over what to do next together. The completed paintings will be in the next posting. Along with some thoughts about working with another artist.

A not unusual Day

The photo, which has nothing to do with this entry, is from this morning.

This entry is for those who wonder how my days go. It's not typical, but not unusual, except that I didn't make it into the studio to paint. At least I did get in a photo shoot for a painting.

4 a.m. - up with my big dog, who has sinus issues. We discovered the natural solution is to allow him to eat grass OR we feed him raw broccoli. With more than 5 inches of snow still on the ground, it was a broccoli morning.

7:45 a.m. - up with all dogs. They get breakfast, then we head out for about 1/2 hour. Then I get breakfast.

9-10 a.m. Prepping for today's photo shoot scheduled at 11:00.

11- 12:30 Photo shoot with two pups and a kitty. Kitty was involved by default. :-)

12:30 -1:45 Travel time, errands, home.

2:00- 4:30 - Doggie lunch cookies and outside again. then I get lunch. Feed the cat. Make homemade dog cookies. Check e-mail. Talk to puppy sitter. Make blog entry. Go watch Ellen. ( I am late! I always watch Ellen. it's my one hour to relax).

5 p.m. - prepare dinner

6 p.m.- head out to yoga

9 p.m. - return home. catch 30 Rock. Take dogs out and go to bed.

And ( in case you did) you may wonder no more why I don't paint any more quickly.

More on the Collaboration

Once Mike and I got into the studio to work together, it was a great experience. Our styles are so very different, we had a blast learning from one another.
We'd start out each working on our own canvas. I thought we'd paint a little, then switch, paint some more, talk about our choices, switch again, etc. So much for having a plan.

Our set up was back to back, each with an easel and canvas in front of us.
As we worked, we would turn around to see what was happening. Before we knew it,
we wound up so engaged in what the other was doing, we worked on both pieces together a good portion of the time.
These two images show the first layers of color on each painting and we've each had a hand on both canvases.
We wound up working together most Saturdays, about 3 hours or so, for about 4 months.
We're not done yet......

MARCH 3 - more randomness

We have a wonderland of white outside; nine inches of snow fell in our backyard between Sun. and Mon. The pics are Monday a.m. and the sky is still gray.

Here's more about the collaboration between my studio partner Mike and me:
I was invited by a dear, supportive friend ( Wayne, who co-owns Riverview Gallery in Portsmouth VA) to participate in a show he planned to title "Collaboration." The only stipulation was that more than one artist had to have their hand in each piece. So I invited two artists to join me. One was not available, but Mike was and eager to give it a go. So, we each eventually began with a large canvas ( 30 x 48) and started with whatever we wanted. Mine was going to be a dog. His turned
out to be his dog. We each did our own preliminary sketches.

Then the fun began. This pic is what mine was originally planned to be : two panels, each 24 x 30.
Things did change. And I need to get into the studio. Stay tuned.