Thursday, July 29, 2010

New painting and not good news

Nude with blue hair
NUDE WITH BLUE HAIR
I just finished this painting yesterday, it's part of my new series of abstract figure studies. I also got some bad news yesterday, the Miller Gallery of Cincinnati informed me that my work doesn't quite measure up to their standards and have decided not to represent me, my paintings are being sent back.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Another gallery ad in Art in America magazine

The Craig Smith Gallery has run another ad in the August issue of Art In America, featuring four of his artists, Jeffry Chiplis, Judy Mullen, Stephen Moss and myself. He suggested that I show one of my sculptures as well as a painting from my new series of abstract nudes.

CraigSmithAd

Monday, July 26, 2010

Two more new paintings

I've been very busy for the last few days completing a couple more abstract figure studies.
NudeInTheMood
NUDE IN THE MOOD

NM1
The first stage of a new painting is to cover the blank canvas with tones so that I can judge better if the color and values are working well together. Taped to my drawing board is a sketch which I use as a basis for the composition and color. Often I alter the design quite a bit. The sketch was created on the computer.

NM2
Even at this stage I often change colors, values and even shapes as I see how the work is developing.

NM3
JUBILANT MUSE
After many hours of decisions and color changes I finally reach the point where I feel the painting is finished. However, sometimes days later I may still do a few minor color corrections. These paintings are basically color and design studies based on the sketches.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Two more new paintings finished

I just finished two new paintings from my new series of abstract nudes that are based on my computer sketches. I use the computer studies as a basis for the final paintings, often there are many changes that the work goes through during the final painting process. It's a great way to create interesting art as during the computer stage I can do several different color versions and pick out one as a starting point.

Almost Relaxed Nude
Above is the finished 30 x 30" acrylic painting that I started a couple of weeks ago and is titled "Almost Relaxed Nude". This and the other painting below will be exhibited at the Miller Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

SeatedMuse1
Here is the first stage of another painting titled "Seated Muse". I am just blocking in some of the color areas.

SeatedMuse2
Here I have added an overall background color and am adding some textures to it.

Seated Muse
After a great many changes of color and in the overall design, the painting is completed. This painting is 24 x 36", acrylic on canvas.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Working on a new painting

R0012076
I'm working on a new painting from my series of abstract nudes based on computer sketches. This is a fun and interesting project that I really enjoy. Above is an early stage where I have painted in some of the background areas.

R0012079
Adding some of the black figure helps me to determine if my color values are working out.

NewPtg
Here the painting is not quite finished, but coming along nicely. You can see my original computer sketch taped to my drawing board, I don't always follow the design or colors, but use these sketches as a starting point.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Another Craig Smith Gallery ad

CSad2
Here's an ad I designed for the Craig Smith Gallery in Harbert, Michigan which will appear in the August issue of Art in America. It shows the work of Jeffry Chiplis, Judy Mullen, Stephen Moss as well as one of my new paintings and also one of my linear sculptures.

More abstract figure pintings

I've been busy the last few days painting more abstract figure studies.

NudeInTheMood
NUDE IN THE MOOD

NM1
The first stage of another painting. I paint in various color areas until the canvas is covered. That's the only way I can tell how the values and colors work together.

NM2
Further work on establishing the color values. All my basic color choices go through various phases of development and changes during this process.

NM3
JUBILANT MUSE
After many hours of altering color values I finally arrive at the point where I feel the painting is finished. Sometimes even days after reaching this decision I still may make a few more minor color changes.