Study for "Visitation"

      This is one of those studies that could've been a great finished painting but I lost steam when I transferred the drawing to a larger panel. Suddenly it seemed daunting and uninspiring on a large scale. But on a small, loose scale, it's kind of nice. The study will be a part of the "Quoth the Raven" show at Krab Jab Gallery in Georgetown this month.
      My statement for the show: "Crows have always been sacred birds to me. When travelling by foot down long dusty highways, they were my guides. When searching for food, they showed me where to go. When sleeping under bridges and on rooftops, they were my sentinels. I lived with a wounded crow for awhile and this was ecspecially interesting to interact with an indivisual crow on a daily basis. My painting 'visitation' is commemorating that relationship between crows and humans."

More fun with the palette knife

Deception Pass State Park

New figure painting in progress

A careful line drawing is transferred to a prepared panel. In this stage of the painting it's all construction. All these lines will disappear before the painting is finished. They are merely notes to self.
Feeling all too uncertain of what is going on in her back, I did a last minute anatomy study sketch before our next session. I cleared up the big muscle groups but need to get back in to pick out the smaller ones.

The Ebauche (underpainting)...

Beginning of first pass...

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.

Sculpted bust of ME

Now, for shits and giggles, an actual sculpted bust of ME! Crazy isn't it?!? Dear friend Katrina Wolfe sculpted it 5 or 6 years ago. I sat for countless hours on an uncomfortable wooden stool for the damn thing. But it came out amazing. She blows my mind.

Trois Enfant

Just a little something in progress to show the procedure. A charcoal drawing done directly on the canvas, spray fixed, and the monochromatic underpainting.

Study of Mt. Rainier

I painted this little study on a beautiful day on Vashon Island and am really proud of it because I did something I've never done before.... I painted it entirely with palette knives! No brushes!
Check out the juicy texture. All those late nights watching Bob Ross on Youtube are paying off!