paintings in progess

Took a 5 day still life painting workshop at the Whidbey Island fine art studio with David Gluck and Kate Stone http://paintingstufftolooklikestuff.blogspot.com/. They were awesome. They reminded me of what I was taught in France, and I was needing that reminder. Sometimes this stuff needs to be pounded in your head for years before you get it! Above is the painting I did in class.

Back to Seattle and inspired to get started on something new. Found this old rusty drill press at the Whidbey Island junk yard on the way out. A careful drawing is transferred and I begin, the ebauche or underpainting. Basically a thinned out version of the painting. A dress rehearsal. David and Kate reminded me that this first layer is ecspecially important for shadows and textural areas. You want to leave what you can behind and not overwork areas of uninterest. I've made that mistake too many times.... Here is a detail of the first pass of opaque paint:

....and the finished painting.