Portrait Project 2011

I will be inviting people from my area to share in a project that begins now and will run for a limited time. As my blog follower you are getting the first opportunity to take part. If you volunteer your responsibilities are: agree to sit for four hours at my Summerland studio at agreed upon time. The logistics are 8:00 to12:00 with a few short breaks. You forfeit any rights to the original painting and the copyright will remain in my possession. At the end of my project each participant will receive a complimentary giclee reproduction of their portrait.
I'm interested in any age but as the sitting time is tough for children to deal with I'll limit age to ten and up.
This venture will provide me an opportunity to grow as a figurative painter and will give many people the chance to experience having their portrait painted as well as receiving a print of their portrait. I hope to create a body of work suitable to show at a future date.
The portrait of my mother posted above gives an idea of what I plan to achieve with each painting. If you are in the area or plan to be and want to schedule a sitting e-mail me or phone me at 250-494-7892.

Wet Paint

This past week I've been working at using different colours of the same value but different temperatures to describe form. Instead of painting the shaded portion of my face all one dark flesh colour you can see I used red, ochre, blue, green and violet. Likewise in the lit areas I combine different colours in the same value to create some visual excitement and emotion.
Sadly this photo does not reproduce well so you'd have to see the painting first hand to appreciate the proper effect. Double click on the image to full enlargement and you can get a better feel for the brushwork.
I'm starting to treat my paintings a little like a sculptor will when he/she pares away at a three dimensional piece.There is a back and forth process as I work different hues beside and over each other. The challenge is to create a visual feast , pushing the work up to the point before it all turns to mud. I think I'm making some headway.
If you wonder why I painted myself the reason is that I'm available and all I need is a mirror. I plan to do more figurative work from life but will spend more time getting comfortable with my process before paying out sitting fees.

A Sense of Place

The joy of painting in open air is that establishing a sense of place occurs naturally over the duration of your project. While you observe your scene you become immersed in the sounds, smells and subtle variations of light as it reflects off the water onto the waving leaves in this case.
Looking at this little painting that I did last summer takes me right back to the moment. I can hear the breeze whispering through the leaves and smell the summer lake waters. My mind takes in the jumble of greens above the far claybanks and composes them into recognizable vineyards.
Spring is returning to us rather reluctantly this year but I'm looking forward to many more open air adventures.

You Know More Than You Realize

Often when people approach me while I'm painting outdoors they preface any comments with something like "I don't know anything about art but........". Its funny how the general population has been brainwashed into thinking that without an art education or having the benefit of some enlightened criticism they are unable to recognize good art.
Its really not true if you think about it. Consider music. We may have no musical training or even a rhythmic bone in our bodies but we intuitively recognize great music.
I know absolutely nothing about ballet but even I can recognize great dance when I see it. I may be ignorant of the the technical nuances, historical references or even the basic plot. Yet I can see what is good (or bad).
If you are interested in art appreciation and wonder why you are uninspired with virtually all of the contemporary art being presented to you by our public galleries and museums check out this link.Click here
Scott Burdick is a wonderful painter and he's uploaded this biased but clearly intelligent opinion about the present state of art in the west. I think you will enjoy it.
The good news is that there is a revival of interest and appreciation for quality representational work underway today in the commercial gallery system.

This past week I've been rained on, sleeted on and snowed on. Much of my time was spent refreshing my plein-air process and most of my paintings were reduced to mud through overwork but I'm excited to be out there with the deer and coyotes again.






Have A Great Week! I'm praying for some SUNLIGHT! PLEASE!

Re-imagining my Process

Here are two studio efforts underway to be completed this week.

Living in a northern country as a valley-bottom dweller has its liabilities. Months of little or no direct light, short cold days that drive me into my studio to huddle beside a small heater while I try to paint under artificial florescent lighting. Might be bearable if the dreaded SAD wasn't pushing my spirit into the dark places.
Okay, it's not that disturbing but yesterday I did step back and I observed myself huddled over a mediocre black and white printout of a tiny photograph attempting to connect to my subject and understandably I asked myself "what are you doing???". Responding to your subject through photo reference is not unlike building a relationship with your partners passport. It may take you places but there's little joy.
This is an insidious trap set for artists by ourselves and remarkably many of us are pulled in like invertebrates caught in a rip tide.
Well, enough of this. I rolled around all night grilling myself with questions like "what am i creating art for, whats important, where am i going and what do i as a human bring to the rest of my tribe when i create art?"
I don't have all the answers but this I strive for; I must paint from life regardless of discomfort. Its only when interacting directly with nature and people that I have any hope of communicating and contributing to good in the world.
These concerns may seem to be escoteric pretension to you but they are fundamental to whatever it is I'm stumbling towards. All of you in your own chosen disciplines are making choices not unlike mine I'm sure. We need to hold up our end in this journey we call a lifetime.
Next time I trust I'll come to you with some snow on my boots and blood on my brushes. Have a great week.