How I changed an old painting - repost.

Classical still life  AFTER changes

20"x16"  oil on canvas  - unfinished

FIRST Version - below

ARTIST NOTE
This was painted
after taking a
workshop from
Qiang Huang and I was quite pleased
a few with areas of it but this was
back before
I started to use my
Fracturing Technique.
The only parts I
liked were the
brush marks
on the lower cloth.
I copied exactly what he did
because I love Qiang's brushwork!
After some time
the analytical part of my brain kicked in.

Look at the way
it is all lined up.
DUH....
what was I thinking!
Have to learn to watch
out for the tangents.

I lightly sanded
the old surface then
rubbed a little
linseed oil with a
small amount of
Gamsol added.

I changed the
shape of the vase
 into a pitcher so it
would curve into
the painting and also
moved it in from the
edge. I lowered one
of the peaches and
got rid of the middle
lemon in the small
bowl.  I brought
forward the base of
the small dish holding
the lemon slices by
making it deeper so
it no longer lined up
with the grape.

Then I made the back wall
lighter so the jug would fit
into the passage of light.
I needed to move the
eye around and away
from the top right of
the painting so I
added a slice near the
left edge. I intend to fill
out more of the eucalypti
stalk later. I added fresh
paint all over so I could
start to fracture.

At this point the painting starts to speak to me and I listen.
I have to ask myself what I like and what I do NOT like.
Looking at it in the mirror I decide I should dump it.
BUT...darn it, I have a class I am doing this in front of
so  I will have to ...
excuse me,
but I cannot resist...Keep Calm and Carry On!

I realize I do NOT like the dark area of grapes PLUS
the lower two dark corners. It was like having an arrow
pointing down off the bottom!

What to do? Does it matter?
I decided it did - if only as a valuable learning experience.
I wanted more color...and for it not to be so stiff.
This was a personal taste issue more than correction.
I already had some clementines
so I changed the grapes into an orange and lemon
then automatically the peaches appeared to change
just by using the leaves to make them become clementines.
I took the cloth all the way to one corner and
added the fringe to break up the large dark area
...still to be perfected.

The image above shows developing the fringe.
I ended up taking it further back on the table
Placing the glass over it first to make corrections
on the glass see if I would like it

I know I have to do some finessing in
several areas to satisfy my
unresolved feelings about this painting.
I think we all have paintings like this and it can be
a great way to discover our reactions to many
aspects of our artwork.

In my case - style change and knowledge growth.
Look what has happened on the glass since I did the very top
pic. An "off with its head " moment and got rid of the fringe.

Made the background lighter too.

 Will this EVER be finished...

Does it matter? That is the important question.

Am I enjoyed playing around with it?
You betcha! I learn a lot by risking ruining a painting than
having the attitude of trying to save it, just to sell.
Maybe this one will never be completed.
But as a learning experience, it was very informative.

Mixed Bouquet.

6"x 6" oil on canvas  $110.  SOLD

This was a demo to show the importance

of having a transparent underpainting.

Artist Note.

 I had a request

to repost this one from last year . 

I am a big believer in leaving

some of the darker areas in

 a painting, transparent. 

There is a certain glow which 

doesn't happen with opaque

dark areas  - in fact I find

they can look, pretty "chalky."

My transparent colors 

used for the demo were:

Viridian

 Transparent Oxide Yellow TYO

Alizarin (permanent)

Ultramarine Blue.

 After a wash of TOY 

I did a mass shape using  Viridian.

Next I lifted out the lighter areas

using a rag.

I followed this with more lifting

with a small amount of Gamsol

on my rag and a scrubby brush.

This was to hit my lightest areas. 

I added Viridian and Ultra 

with touch of Aliz to make darker

greens in jar and leaves.

I added more TOY to back and front.

and shadowed the area 

behind the jar

 linking into the dark leaves

Bringing in color but making

sure to keep it all transparent.

Then the fun part - I fractured it!

(See FREE tutorial on tools and what

I use for fracturing  HERE )

I enjoyed bringing it back 

into form by

 taking advantage 

of the broken areas to add 

interest 

Now into the opaque colors.

I added 

Titanium 

Permanent Yellow and 

Permanent Red light to my palette

I started using a knife and a brush

at this point. 

I left the flowers 

very abstract on purpose. 

That was the easiest part -

 because they were all imaginary.

There are transparent areas

peeking through the opaque 

marks, and to me it makes 

for an exciting surface.

Thick - thin,

transparent - opaque,

warm - cool.

If you are not already using the

transparent colors - or have not 

used them for a while then

please let me know if you are 

inspired to try them.

Happy Painting

Enjoy your weekend.

Flowers and Stripes

Flowers and Stripes
8"x6" oil on linen panel $150 SOLD

Artist Note.
I am always fascinated with stripes.
The hard part is fracturing them
so they are not hard and straight
but still look like stripes..

I was playing around with  leaving
the natural linen color as a border.
It didnt work for my style.
Bummer!

There is a wonderful artist
who does this very effectivly.
Check him out  - see link below.
  Click on
one of his landscapes to enlarge
and see how effective it is.

Jeff Cochran


A little aside for those who know
what is going on in my life.
The house was just appraised
on Tuesday by the VA. We have no idea
how long before we get the results.
Fingers crossed!

The Ginger Glass Vase

The Ginger Glass Vase

6"x6" oil on Raymar panel $125. SOLD

Artist Note

A lot of work goes into making 

a full size still life onto

such a small board.

I was trying something new...

so, please

let me know that when

you first saw it 

you could tell it was mine.

Poppy and Red

Poppy Red

6'x6' oil on Raymar panel 110.

SOLD

Artist Note

I have a new red tube of paint

I wanted to try out.
Holbein's Rose Dore

I thought it was a cool red.

Wrong!

Look below 

The swatches are of transparent reds.

I found

Rose Dore 

to be a beautiful transparent red.

All colors cool down adding white but the 

Rose Dore managed to stay warm

by comparison. 

I like it.

I will add it to my box for when 

I want a glowing, transparent underpainting

I went to the store and 

bought a beautiful red silk poppy 

and held it under a light.

It was fun to paint ...

and not so much fun to photograph.

It took as long to get the above image

closest to the real one as it did to paint it.

P.S.

House under contract again!

February 21st closing.

Fingers crossed. We really like

the family. A military family.

Farmers Market #25

Farmers Market #25
8"x8" oil on Raymar panel SOLD


Artist Note

I thought a spot of sunshine for my
blog followers in the brutally 
cold areas
would be a reminder of what
lies ahead for you all!
Sending warmest thoughts
your way.
Keep safe!

I enjoyed painting this and kept adding 

to the composition...putting in and taking out.
taking me time and having a good time.

It is from sketches and photos
I have done here at the 
Farmers Market in Las Cruces -
but I took out the buildings along 
Main Street.
Could be in France!


I enjoyed the most marvelous
time before and after Christmas,
 even though we all had to clear out
of the house
for viewings a couple of times.

The kids took it well and piled
all their "stuff" back into cars
  because the closets had to
be kept neat!

No sibling fights,
lots of laughter and reminiscing
about good times in the house.
Perfect.
Now the perfect buyer is welcome
at any time.

Some Favorite Things.

Some Favorite Things

8"x6" oil on Canvas Panel  SOLD

Artist Note

I just enjoyed a wonderful 

few hours in the studio.

I gathered a favorite porcelain vase

to go with some beautiful flowers

I was given over Christmas plus

a table runner that was my mothers,

and blissfully went into 

a zen zone.

Christmas was very, very special 

as I hope yours was too.

This will be the last post of the year.

Once again I thank you all for

following my blog.

Also for the friendship as well as

the encouragement I feel

you give me. 

I AM GRATEFUL!

I get so much pleasure out of 

visiting your blogs 

and being inspired, 

 not only with the images 

but also the words you write.

Thank you.

.

I AM GRATEFUL!

May 2018 be one of good health

and personal happiness for you all.

Bosque Del Apache, NM. Sunrise

Bosque Sunrise 

8"x 8" oil on canvas panel $200.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

I finally had time to paint this 

amazing sunrise view

from my visit to the Bosque in the Fall.

(If you look carefully at this

on the early morning of the 25th 

you will see the Santa's sleigh 

going across the light!!)

I held my annual December 
Fracturing Technique Workshop

and it was a pure delight for me

 due to a very compatible  

and also

 a talented group of artists 

who were willing to push themselves

into new territory.

Thank you all for honoring me 

with your painting trust.

Now it is MY time to paint 

before the new classes start in January.

 I have a Do Not Disturb sign on

my studio door.

 My friends are honoring it!

We have been blessed with 

not selling the house yet 

and so my kids & families 

are coming in for one last 

holiday blast in the home we all love.

Wishing every one of you who 

follow this blog, a wonderful

Christmastime of Love, Peace, and Hope.

May our fine military forces,

the first responders everywhere

and  especially the amazing firefighters 

in California

get to be home or at least be able to 

skype/facetime their loved ones

for the holidays.

I will be back before 
the New Year.

Orchids

                                                                                   

Orchids

6"x12" oil on canvas panel  $200. SOLD

Artist Note

This was a demo for

 the last class of the semester

at the Artist Guild SNM

It was painted on a surface 

already colored

by a previous wipe-off.

I started with the transparent
darker areas first, adding
the colored opaque areas bit by bit
as I gradually moved into
the whitest areas,

I used a photo I had taken
at Trader Joes of the
tops of the orchids through
the  clear wrapping.
Purple, yellow and white flowers.
Beautiful together.

This is an unusual size but I like
how it flows
and do not want to crop it.
It will need a custom frame.

Thank you for all the
great comments on my last post.
I am sorry I have not had time
 to answer them.
Busy, busy with Thanksgiving
and fun company.
Plus...
the house still on the market!!

Blessings Are Everywhere.

Blessings Are Everywhere

watercolor on Yupo

Sold

First, let me wish you all 
a grateful and peaceful

Thanksgiving

Every 7 years it falls on my birthday

and this year is THE one.

My daughter will be doing the cooking!

Artist Note

I painted this one in the car going

to and from the dentist. 

A trip of an hour each way.

It was almost finished 

by the time I got home

(as you can see in the car photo.)

I spent another hour tweaking it

in the studio. 

I really, really like it,

partially because it is 

totally from my imagination.

Pulling on my memory of shapes

and movement of the birds, etc

It is larger than 

my usual daily paintings 

and when matted and framed

I hope it will continue to please me.

Steps

to start...

I deliberately used a staining blue

and took it right across

the page and then lifted it off leaving 

a light blue foundation.

Next, using a big brush I 

placed puddles of 

yellow pale

transparent orange oxide 

and transparent brown oxide

then fractured into them.

I lifted off the shaped of the birds 

with a paper towel and water.

I then began the details...

the fun part, but also what takes

the longest and is the most absorbing

with all the decisions to be made.