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.

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.

What it means is that I’ll be taking a break very soon.

I’m in the midst of painting three series of paintings for a gallery show in April at Amberella Sugary & Sweet Gallery & Boutique in the Piazza in Northern Liberties in Philly. April 2nd, 2010.

I’ve also got a few pieces in a digital display at Obscura, on 10/17/09 in Newark.

Here’s some of the work in progress for the show at Amberella.

[View with PicLens]

Things I’d like to write about:
How I came up with the themes for the Reflections series.
How I got the show.
How it’s working out with the watercolor canvas.
How it feels and what it means to finally get a gallery show.
Hearing from people in person about the blog/painting/sketches but rarely digitally
Dr. Sketchy’s in Philly and NYC
My visit to Studio Incamminati

Wish me/us luck.

Here’s crappy pics of the them, I shot some quality ones outside today, but I’ll have to pull them off the flash card tomorrow / Monday night. Weird trivia: a couple of nights I turned down drinking with friends and painted instead. Coincidental. But, hey, if you want to help me paint, throw me some drinking invites. Apparently they drive me to paint.

Thanks to all my friends who commented on these already. It’s flattering and keeps me going even when I just want to enjoy the weather. Though now I’m painting in oils maybe I’ll paint outside old school.

Here they is:

Mosh from 5/8

Lilah from Cinco de Mayo

Veronica from 5/3

This one’s next:

I’m still getting comfortable with oils. I have to accept the fact that I have to paint from dark to light. I now know that waiting four days in between painting after putting in the darks is too long. Still looking for a sharp edge from a brush while painting with oils. I also want to play a little more and on the other end, I’d like to have a little more control on the shadows from the hair on the face.

From Twitter as I was painting tonight:
# Darks. I think that’s all for tonight. Hard to really fight to get myself to paint for some reason

# Using a butcher tray for a palette. Crazy thing about water-mixable oils, I just soak the tray in water to clean it
# And I got these two #8 kolinsky sable brushes for about 1/2 off (normally $70 or so each).

# Oils were half off at the local art supply place

# Painting for the next 45 minutes or so

Here’s the work in progress

[View with PicLens]

I can’t really explain what’s happening here. It was a very weird experience painting this way, I think I’ll do it again, but it’s certainly not a replacement for the Illustration boards I’ve been using. Last week’s experiment went well, so that’s promising. Next week is oils.

I really struggled with this, it behaved differently than anything I’ve ever worked with and I had no frame of reference. While it was completely disorienting, it was very exciting. The water stayed put when I painted it, except when it didn’t. For example, the dark purple in the middle? It started at the right edge of the figure. But I took a wet one-inch brush and dragged on the outside of the right of the figure and the water from that seeped into the dark purple. As time went on (not much time, maybe 20 minutes) the dark purple slowly migrated to the center, where you see it in the picture. That’s messed up. Without knowing any of this, Trish said that the painting looked like a ghost of my other paintings. Little did she know the dyes were haunted. Funnily enough the effect that’s in the picture (who knows what I’ll see tomorrow morning …) is one I’ve tried ot achieve for years and years. So even if I don’t use this medium again, it’s reignited my desire to create that effect.

I have some ideas on some small touches I can put on it to finish it off. I’m also tempted to try it again because I think there’s a real loose, free kind of style that I can use here. You’ll see later this year if I get to it.