The next step

I have worked from the live nude periodically since the early 1970's. This blog started August 9th, 2012 in my second year of working almost exclusively from the figure.

In the fall of 2015 I reintroduced still lifes and an occasional cityscape into my painting repertoire. Rather than abandon this figure blog or start a new one I decided to add them to the conservation.

All drawings and paintings posted on this blog were done entirely from live models or on location.

Monday, September 24, 2018

Numbers

I started using a limited palette almost a year ago. Quickly sensing the potential of the method, I dove head first into working as many private and group figure sessions as possible. My reasoning was simple, do more paintings and get better. There is no doubt that progress can only come with practice but volume doesn't necessarily lead to improved results. A number count is far less important than intent and intensity.

Seated Nude, oil on panel mounted linen
5 1/2" X 5 1/2", 2018



Thursday, September 13, 2018

The Itty Bitty Trap

A local 6" X 6" exhibition venue plus numerous linen scraps around the studio enticed me to try my hand at small scale figurative work. The experience has been enjoyable, instructive and quite challenging. However, I'm starting to see a down side to going tiny. I find myself obsessing on small details of already itty bitty paintings. I don't want to linger here too long.

Nude Study, oil on panel mounted linen
3 1/2" X 5 ", 2018



Tuesday, September 4, 2018

The Struggle

After a frustrating session with the pose below, I debated whether to rub off the wet paint and reuse the canvas. I decided to keep the image as a learning tool. While far from successful, there is a vibrancy in the failure. The struggle shows and it matters.

Nude Study, oil on canvas 9" X 11", 2018