Van Dyke Copy

100th Post

Here is an update on the progress I have made with painting on Riley. 11x14 on gesso'd panel.

Values, Color and The Masters

I haven't been very pleased with the results of my work and decided to improve my observation of value, color and edges. I decided to study Bouguereau and a a few others to make needed improvements. I also have been reading Solomon J Solomon's book about painting and have been experimenting with the painting method he describes, which is painting wet into wet alla prima. It is similar to the way Jeremy Lipking and Joseph Todorovitch paint, in as far as I can gather. It is painting lights and darks into an average color value wet base. I have been happy with the results and it is so much easier to work edges when painting wet into wet. Must of the work is small and quick, not much bigger than 4"x6".

On The Easel

W.I.P.

New Album

My brothers are in to making music and they just released their new rap album... here is the link - http://www.myspace.com/archbishop13/music/playlists/brand-new-1149769
(Parental Advisory.

Slow and Steady

Sometimes finishing the portrait is the most difficult. It requires a lot more patience and dedication. Getting closer.

New Self Portrait in Progress

I don't have much time to work on it, so it is a slow process. A hour here and two hours there. Here is the progress so far.

In Progress

Here are few things I have been working on.

At It Again

After moving to NY I finally got settled in enough to start painting again. Having not painted for two months I decided to make some small portrait studies and a quick Velazquez copy to get warmed up. I am also working on another landscape of a local waterfall called buttermilk falls.

Falls

Here is the finished study 9x12.

9x12

This is a smaller study that I am working on. If I like it enough I may paint it larger. The small studies really help to see what is working and what isn't without investing alot of time and resources.

Color Sketches

I come to realize that the only way to get better at painting is to paint! The only problem is time, not enough of it. Solution 1-2 hour color sketches of master paintings that are not much bigger than a post card. Here are the results.

New Work

I finished another self portrait and here are a couple of figure drawings from the figure structure class that I taught this past semester at Utah Valley University.

I am waiting to hear back from the Springville Muesum if one of my self portraits made it into this years spring salon exhibition. Wish me luck.

Landscape Painting

I finished it, at least for now. 8x10

Landscape

I painted a smaller color study a while back of this stream, I am working on a larger version.

Vermeer Copy

I wanted to study Vermeer's painting technique of the milkmaid. Here is my success and failures so far. In process.

Rembrandt Update

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.