Update

Working on the Bouguereau portrait and feel like I am making some progress, fixing some drawing errors and started a copy of Carl Bloch's Christ. I am becoming painfully aware that my edge quality is not up to par.

Bouguereau Update

After looking at this copy I realized that I could put it a lot farther and there is still a lot of errors to fix. It is testing my patience. I really don't have the patience for this, but I realize that patience is it's own reward and that craftsmanship and workmanship is born in the fire of affliction. Still is process and may be for the rest of my life.

In Process

This is a portrait of Natalie Malan. I am not sure I did her justice and there is something not right that I can put my finger on. Feedback welcomed.

Carl Bloch

Carl Bloch is one of my heroes. I did this copy to gain a better understanding of his paint applications. The values are a little too dark.

What Difference a Few Years Makes

Here is a copy of a Rembrandt I did in 2007, 2009 and one that is in process.

Rembrandt Copy

This is the Rembrandt I copied before my self portrait. It's 5"x7".

New Self Portrait

I've been studying Rembrandt lately and been intrigued with the way he applies paint. For me that solves the expressive nature I have been seeking lately in my work. I've also tried to fined that balance between expression and accuracy. I love some of Van Gogh's self portraits for their expressive nature, but they fail to satisfy the accuracy that I seek. Rembrandt seem to do a good job at both. I did a Rembrandt copy in oil before this self portrait hoping some of his influence would rub off on me.

Who Said it is Not Good to Copy?

I've been working on some copies of Bougeureau and Rembrandt. There is so much one can learn from the master. Copying was a major component of the education of the French Academy in the 19th century.

Update

I'm posting some copy paintings I'm working on, some drawings from the figure drawing and head drawing class I am teaching at UVU and the first two are a drawing from life and a drawing from memory. One of these days I'm going to learn how to photograph my artwork so it doesn't look like crap.

Drawings

It has been a long time since last post. Here are some drawings that I have been working on. The reference for the Indian drawings is from Edward Curtis. I love his lighting and composition. It makes for a more personal portrait. I am not sure if it is the composition, the lighting, or position of the head, or a combination of each. The other is from a scuplture of Bernini of St. Longus.

New Portrait

This drawing is for an oil painting that I'm starting.

Tree Study

This is a little tree study I did in Hunter, NY. The roots were that gnarly, there was no embellishment.

Yet Another

This is a 6"x8" study I did of North Lake. I decided to paint for the same location Thomas Cole had painted from. They had a plaque that marked the location. It was interesting to see the liberties that he took with what he saw and what he painted in painting that location of North Lake.

This is his painting.

En Plein Air

My attempts at painting weren't as successful as my drawings. I spent the first couple of weeks painting on panel that was too slick, luckily I had a friend who was able to bring me back some canvas from NYC.

Rainy Days

A day into the workshop my $7.00 folding chair broke. So, I was left to find a rock or log for support for several days until the new chair I ordered arrived. Unfortunately it rain several of those days I was waiting, oh did I forget to mention that I was waiting for my umbrella as well. One of the days I was waiting it happened to rain. I remember it fondly, sitting on a towel on a rock, slightly sheltered by the branches of the trees, with my sketchbook and only my poncho to cover me in what seemed like a monsoon. Despite the circumstances I felt like I was able to produce a fair drawing. Note: The dark specks are were the paper was wet and I drew into it, making it impossible to erase.

For anyone wanting to see photos of the workshop you can check them out here

Take Courage

As I mentioned before, attending the Hudson River School for Landscape Painting (HRSL) was a great experience in large part because I was introduced to so many talented artist that shared similar desires to paint the landscape. Here is a link to a list of those artist here

I am posting a couple more of my drawings from HRSL. It was humbling to be around such talented artist and display my meager attempts. But I took courage in Durand advice in his letters on landscape painting. He advised students not to get discouraged with failed attempts but to "meet with courage and perseverance every difficulty in the progress of your studies, and patiently endure the frequent discouragements attending your failures and imperfect efforts."

Tree Studies

This summer I had the chance to attend the Hudson River School for Landscape Painting. It was a great experience to be surrounded by talented artists and a beautiful landscape (when it wasn't raining).

On the recommended reading list was a series of letters that Asher Durand wrote for inspiring landscape artist. In the first letter he advised the student to "master the pencil first" and "draw with scrupulous fidelity the outlines and contours of sych objects that you select". He further advised the student to begin mastering the components of the landscape such as rocks, trees and foreground plants as a prelude to painting finished landscapes. These are my attempts to follow his advice. There will be more forthcoming.

Building Concept Art

Here is some concept art for Kingdom for Keiflings.

"Stream" 6"x8"

I started my own series of daily paintings for sale. This was from when I was at the Hudson River School for Landscape Painting.

click to bid

Busy

Sorry for the lack of updates I've been real busy. This a concept painting that I finished while working on Kingdom For Keiflings. I'll post some of my artwork from the Hudson River School for Landscape Painting when time permits.