Process
Last week of painting: all done
Well, mostly all done. There’s a painting I’m auctioning off for charity that I need to finish, a couple of small paintings, and I need to touch up the sides of some of the paintings I’ve finished – but, the hard work is done. I’m completely overwhelmed by how much I’ve been able to get done and to be able to look at these paintings that have lived in my head for so many years. It’s an amazing gift to be able to make ideas real and it’s a feeling that I’ll always cherish. It’s hard to believe with the new baby, a full time job, and re-launching Dr. Sketchy’s Philly that I was able to get this done. I owe so much to my wife Trish.
Here’s what I had on 1/24
Here’s what I had on 2/28
That’s an amazing feeling.
OK, enough seriousness. Here’s what happened yesterday.
Sunday
Getting it all done in time for the show
I had a bit of a meltdown on January 28th. If you know me personally, you know on the outside my meltdowns aren’t very noticeable. On the inside, I had done the math, and realized with my current pace, and the time remaining until the end of February, divided by the number of remaining paintings I had to do for the show … well I was going to run out of time.
Unsure of what to do, other than doing the math over and over again, I talked to Trish about it and she suggested that I change the way I had been painting. Instead of painting a complete piece, I could use the technique that I had used in 2006 when I did my first series and that I use often when I do my Halloween paintings.
Sunday, January 24th
Inspired by this and running on fear/excitement adrenaline, I started painting. I wasn’t sure exactly what the color scheme was going to be for the next seven paintings, or even the style, but I found myself using an old technique that I wanted to bring back soon and after about a half hour, this was the result:
I put that off to the side, still drying and then did this:
The technique was similar to one I used in late 2008, but I hadn’t tried it with the new watercolors I was learning how to use. This time I put water down, then threw paint down.
I felt very differently after I had painted those two. The plan was to paint every night, for about a half hour to an hour. Just before sleeping. Working on the same type of stage on all seven. Backgrounds, then fabric, then hair, then portraits. While I began to work on these paintings, I also had to prime two 24″ by 48″ canvases with the magic watercolor gesso.
I had planned out five pieces that work work together:
Wednesday, January, 27th
Thursday, January 28th
Friday, January 29th
Sunday, January 31st I drew the images on the two 24″ by 48″ canvases.
Monday, February 1st
Wednesday, February 3rd
Another view
Saturday, February 6th
Monday, February 8th
Tuesday, February 9th
Wednesday, February 10th
Thursday, February 11th
Saturday, February 13th Did this:
and this:
Got some nice feedback on Twitter. That really helps me keep painting.
Sunday, February 14th, I did this:
Then reworked it:
Knowing I had to finish the fabric, I worked on this:
some more
Monday, February 15th, I realized I had to wrap up the next stage, the hair marathon. In order:
You can see it’s getting crowded in the studio.
I hope to finish these seven paintings by 2/28.
I’ll have an update next Monday.
Finding my Rhythm
Painting in progress: Reflections Series: Rhythm
It’s my next in the Reflections series. My first of that series in the Dr. Marten’s Hydrus. I started this on Friday 11/20 and I expect to finish it this weekend. Have to admit it was a struggle at first for a few reasons. I hadn’t painted in a while before I started this (though I had done my portrait of Lilah (see previous post) earlier that night), I’m learning to use the Hydrus, and I wasn’t completely committed to the look before I began painting. In fact, I imagined it to look more abstract, more evocative of fire, but it’s taking on a life of its own. It’s making me think of surfing, or any water activity. One force is you, with the idea of what you want to happen, then there’s the force of the current of the water and between the two somehow you make it to shore, just maybe not in the way you had expected.
Here’s some photos of it in progress.
New watercolors, new board
For all you the new people coming from Twitter: welcome!
I’m in the middle of getting ready for a gallery show and I’m experiementing with some new media to use for the show. I’m trying this media because it will last longer and not fade.
Below you can see the results of me trying out the Dr. Marten’s Hydrus watercolors on something I found at Dick Blick (on 13th and Chestnut) called Aquaboard. I tried to find a link to Aquaboard to show you what I’m talking about, but couldn’t. I’ll look again. What I did find is potentially life-chaging for me. Apparently the magic primer that turns canvas into a medium for watercolor painting is available: http://www.dickblick.com/products/schmincke-aqua-primers/
This could save me a ton of money and open up new canvas shapes like 48 x 24 and ovals. I’m pretty excited. Got to try some of this soon. But – here’s the point of the post, my latest painting. it’s 11 x 14 on Aquaboard.
Managed to get a painting done
The boy is less than two weeks old, but he (and my wife) gave me some time to finish a painting.
It’s my first with Dr. Martin’s Hydrus watercolors. I’m trying them because they allow me to do some things that the dyes don’t. More details soon. I did some experiments with 5 different types of media until I decided to move forward with the Hydrus. I’ll post the experiments and notes about them here.
Here’s the painting: Stoya Noir
Here’s the color study I did for it
Watercolor Canvas
Even though I’ve only used this special canvas three times, I’m loving it and can’t wait to do more.
I’m putting this here basically so that I can easily find it again, but if you want to watch it, enjoy.
FluidBeauty.com YouTube Channel
I made a video of the last painting I did, from start to finish. The painting took about three days to complete, the video spans those three days.
The drippy real fluid stuff starts at about 2:30 or so. The end is a little boring because I’m just focusing on the details of the eyes and mouth and because I haven’t figured everything out with the video quality, it’s tough for you to see.
Please let me know if you are interested in seeing more of these.
The painting
In progress
I’ve spent the past four weeks getting my house ready for our new roommate, my son due to arrive on 9/21. I found some old sketchbooks and a ton of notes of painting ideas. If I get the time, I’ll post some stuff. The scanner works sometimes, as evidenced by my recent Dr. Sketchy’s post.
Meanwhile, here’s some color studies from the next painting. The soundtrack is Stone Roses.
Daily Sketch + painting series
Today’s sketch(es)
Also, I’m working on a series, here’s how far I’ve gotten.
I don’t shoot a series all at once, I actually shoot poses for several series with a model and then let the series come together over the years as I match the right model to the series. So, I’ve been working on this series for six years. I have all the rest of the paintings for this series on canvas, ready to be painted. I’d like to finish it this month.
This series has kind of been my main thesis, about portraying feminine strength and confidence. I’ll write more about how I got here when I’m complete, but for now, that’s a peak into how this works and the long term plan I started back on ‘03 when Trish asked, “why don’t you try to get a gallery show?”
My Facebook Page – see gallery information and news
Steve Cleff on Twitter
My sites
Gallery