Claiming A Canvas for My Own....

So now there was this really huge, hideous painting left behind in the painting studio.  I turned it around so that the back of the canvas was facing the room.  It was too big to try and move out of the way.  And to add a note: I normally don't comment on another person's painting or art in a negative tone, but this one really was a doozy.  I needed another canvas to work on and decided to turn this huge canvas back around and paint over the picture.  I have some initial drawings on the canvas and then some images of the work progressing.  I have four men in the image.  I am currently working on the prominent figure in the foreground.   I was excited to post the images because even the preliminary sketches have an exciting feeling to them.  You can still see the painting underneath and see my work over the top.  The two mix to make an almost abstract painting.  I think the canvas is approximately 60" x 84".  I spent five hours on it today and am already pleased with the progression.  I was telling some fellow classmates that with my luck the painting would show up on the Antiques Roadshow, but not for my painting...oh no, they would want to lift my painting to get to the amazing primitive work underneath and that painting would be worth millions!!!  Well here are the pictures I took of the work.  Oh and you know (too funny), you might think my painting is hideous too!  

Latest Completed Work...Portrait

Well I was attending an event that wasn't going so well, but met this really nice man.  I noticed him right away – he was wearing this beautiful purple coat with orange pants.  I asked if I could take his picture, so that I could paint his portrait.  He was very gracious and allowed me to do so.  I painted his portrait immediately.  The pictures I have aren't the total image but very close.  Since I only painted his head and shoulders, I decided to use the orange of his pants for the background color of the portrait.  I am pleased with the results.  

So Get This....

I ran into one of my other professors from last year.  He is in charge of the Honors Painting Studio.  He asked me to come into his office.  So -hey- no problem.  He then proceeds to ask me, "Didn't you graduate already?"  And then continued, "It's illegal for you to be in the studio now."  I informed him again that I have not graduated yet and that this is my last semester.  He scratched his head and wondered how he could have thought I had already graduated.  I told him that he came to my Senior show and that again I reminded him, I took the class a semester early just to get it out of the way. (all of which he already knew).  So a couple of things:

1.  Why would I be in a room illegally? And why do I still have the keys?
2.  I am the most honest, responsible person on this planet (of ASU).
3.  He can't even remember something that has been stated plenty of times. (Just a week ago, in fact)
4.  That shows just how UN important I am to this school - fricken amazing!!!!!!

I can't wait to dust the Arizona dirt from my shoes.

Newest Painting in Progress...

So I am working on another painting.  It is nearly complete.  I am posting some images - close-up and a fuller picture.  There is again some glare in the photo; the lighting is dismal in the studio and thus making photo taking a challenge, but in all, I think it represents the work pretty well.  And thanks again Eddy for taking the pictures.

More Shots of the Portrait of a Sock Monkey –

I really like how the yellows, reds and blues surfaced more as the paint dried in the Portrait of a Sock Monkey, so I thought I would post them here as well.

History to a Painting...

This painting came from the use of one of my previous paintings.  I decided to build on top and "repaint" on a canvas surface.  What I found was that there was so much history created in brushstroke, dark tones and lights, that the second painting became so much more about the paint and then secondly the image. The structure of the portrait is very similar but a completely different painting all together.  I am very (very) pleased with the results.   Below is some close-up shots and a larger picture (not quite the whole painting, but close enough).  There is some glare from the indoor lighting at the top of the canvas, but I think the photos give a pretty good representation. 

New Paintings

These are some new paintings.  One is a continuation of my political pieces for my Painting 3 class, and the other is for my Independent painting class - of my friend Eddy wearing his sock monkey hat!  This painting is raw.  I only have a close-up partial shot of the painting.  I will try and get a full shot posted at a later date.  The Uncle Sam painting has parts of my face superimposed into the image. 

Well ASU Already Turned Me Down...

Well ASU decided it did not want me in their graduate program.  I had a gut feeling because all of a sudden my professors were sweet as pie and just so happy to see me.  I told Eddy that I had a feeling they were happy because I was leaving.  Plus the professor for my independent class studies, let it slip that I would miss the school when I finish up my last semester.  That was the fastest rejection I think the school has ever done!!!! 

Re-posting the Previous Portrait.

Eddy took more photos today of the portrait posted earlier on the blog; I think the colors are far more true in these images and so wanted to post it again.

Newest Painting

This painting is really difficult to photograph and capture the nuances that are happening in the piece.  All the colors were applied directly to the canvas and then scumbled to create the brown tones in the skin.  Although it looks as if primarily red and brown were used, that is not true.  I used blue, red, green, yellow, yellow ochre, a very vivid orange and only a minimal amount of raw umber for the deepest areas of brown.  I wanted the feeling of a face (person) emerging from fire, atmosphere, and color.  I will try and get a better photo later and post.  We will most likely have to take a picture at night, so as to not have conflicting light sources.  There is also some glare at the top portion of the photo - hopefully the next go around will produce a stronger photo, but I am pleased to document the painting today.

Mitt Romney is Now In The Ring!!!

I finished the Mitt Romney propaganda portrait- he is in the ring and ready to duke it out!!!  This is the companion piece to the Obama previously posted.  Mitt is painted in reds to represent the "red states."

Obama - As A Boxer.

We are painting political paintings in one of my classes.  We have to paint portraits of the president and one  from the Republican party.  I chose Romney.  This is a finished painting of my Obama propaganda.  I chose to make them both boxers.  Obama is in all blues to represent the "blue states" and Mitt will be in reds to represent the "red states."  These paintings are over the top on purpose and have been great fun.  Mitt is nearly finished.  I will post him later.  Here is my Obama – enjoy.

I will be appearing as a sad Uncle Sam.  I will post that soon as well.  

Finally .... Painting Again.

I am so very pleased with this portrait.  It is very loose and free.  I didn't want to represent a certain person; I wanted the portrait to be about color and texture.

This is a close-up of the portrait.  The colors aren't as vivid in the photo as in person, but I feel it still represents the portrait well.  The colors are these really bright vibrant oranges and pinks.

This is the completed portrait.  

My Grandson wearing one of his Christmas presents....

I had to post this picture.  My grandson received a very cute monkey knit hat for Christmas.  Thanks Lou and Ed.  Caleb my son took a quick pic on his phone and sent it to me - I appreciate it Caleb.

Happy New Year!

My final semester starts in three days.....