Figure Trasitioning

Figure Transitioning, December 2013

Acrylic on masonite, 48"x32"

______It usually takes me a few weeks to realize a painting has met a I conclusion (wise art professor voice: "Ah, but is art ever complete?"). I know that the figure is done as done can be, as is the hair at the left that's slowing being obscured by aqua and lilac, which is actually my favorite part of the painting since I tried a different layering technique which was surprisingly effective. I've been staring at Mr. Untitled Painting for three days, which is too long to be staring at a painting, and so I decided to focus my attention on something else. After coming back to it, I've realized, you know what? It is done. There's no use overworking it.

______Through painting this, I actually scrambled up an idea for another painting exploring the strictly rendered vs. the inherent gestural, and I think I'm going to toy around with that a bit in my next few paintings. I know I need to get looser and more deliberate with my brushstrokes, and I suppose that's why I like the part where the hair transitions the best--because that was so minimal and not harshly rendered, yet it's still a recognizable something.

______Welp, time to build more canvases! Onward!

Dreamscenes I

______Man, I've been slower than a fat Santa through a chimney on keeping up with my artwork this semester, but I feel like that's because I've been experimenting and learning new ways of approaching art opposed to actively working at producing end products. Which I am totally fine with. You can always make stuff on your own, but sometimes you need a little teacher coercion to tug you out of your comfort zone.

______I did come out with a few snapshot-worthy works, though, and I'll be posting those throughout the winter break (if I make it through exam week... insert frightening organ pipe music here). This was my figure drawing final, in which we were to create whatever we desired using anything at all.  I mean anything. One guy used butter, mustard, and vaseline to finalize his, and curiously enough, it was effective.

______I didn't add perishable food products in mine, but rather opted to scan through my Word document full of dreams I've scribbled down and use acrylic. I decided to base mine on an uber weird dream I had that involved a mushroom-cloud-like tree, two figures contemplating said mystical mushroom tree, and multiple crows delivering cobs of corn to the tree (which I chose to left out, because naaaaah). 

______There are lots of things I've learned through making this: 

______a) working on such a large scale is quite refreshing! 

______b) I need to paint more and more, for I've only produced a single-digit number of paintings and I know I could have done better than this. Painting should be second nature to me by now! 

______c) dreams are a rich source material, and having a fashion blog and a brother who is overtly willing to pose for you makes finding decent models easy peasy!

Dreamscenes I, acrylic on Rives BFK (60"x44")

Figure Drawing, Fall 2013

Caelumaid

Caelumaid, acrylic and oil on canvas, October 2010 

______At last I feel I am able to wash my blue brushes one last time and declare this done.  This painting depicts a majestic sky-lady who appears from a swirling cloud of watery goodness.  With the completion of this, I have also completed another painting for my final art concentration!  I'd consider that a success.

______My favorite details would have to be her face and the way her hair fades into the sky, though I'm also quite fond of the purplish transition of her skin to the misty, ocean-resemblant dress.  Overall, I'm pleased as a peach with this piece, and hope to explore some more interactions between people and nature in future works...