The Portrait Project begins...

From a photo taken a year or so ago of one of my best friends and staunchest supporters. This is attempt number two at this photo...much more realistic than the first, but still impressionistic. The paints I used in this one helped, I think. They are Activa InterActive Acrylics. I am not total ly sold on them, but, they ARE formulated to stay workable longer (like oils) with the right technique. The longer workability did, I feel, contribute to the more realistic end product as I could fuss with it more...but I found the paint different enough to be annoying at times too.

For instance, I find the paint to be a bit "plastic-y" right out of the tube, and I am partial to really smooth paint (not thick or heavy-bodied stuff). Using a palette that has a special paper over a sponge helped a bit, as does mixing the paint right out of the tube with water or retarder before using it so it's not so thick and unworkable. After doing that, the only real issue I have is that when you pray the painting down to keep it wet and workable...sometimes a big droplet of water falls on a spot...making the paint so delicate and "workable" that a brushstroke takes ALL the paint off that spot, leaving a totally bare circle of white canvas. A bit of a bummer to correct for, personally...
Attempt number one is VERY impressionistic, but I like it's quick and dirty style anyway. These are both really small. No more than 5" tall and 6 or 7" wide...

Salt Pond Triptyc - Done!

Crying Girls No. 8 & 9

Crying Girl No 9
Crying Girl No 8

Baby Audree on Patricia's lap...

My little nieceling! Isn't she so cute?! I did this portrait from the picture below. It is the first portrait of anyone I know that I have attempted (other than myself). I have always been afraid to paint anyone I know...what if they think I made them look ugly, or bad, or just unflattering.

I guess I thought I would have to deal with, "You think I look like THAT!?" and feel bad...would they believe me when I said I'm still learning...or would their feelings stay hurt?

Well, little Audree can't talk yet...and by the time she knows this is her she will look totally different and *hopefully* have no problem with it.

Actually, yesterday I painted another person too...an adult! So thanks Audree, for breaking me out of a rut I was in. I think I'll paint all my friends now!

Salt Pond UPDATES - still in progress

Playing around with using texturizers for the rocks...loving it!
This tryptic is almost done...just need to paint in the power-tower and power lines. And the shadows they cast, of course...I think my favorite part!

Shy Girl

More CryingGirls

I got such good feedback on the CryingGirl close-up on the eye that I tried another impressionistic close-up here. Still a part of the crying series, it is subtler...can you see the faint streak of blue tears coming down the cheek? Much lighter, emothionally, and more sensual with the focus on the lips and curve of the jaw. The colors too are warmer and softer...the tones imply a turn towards better things.

These are a start on two more crying girls. Emotionally they will most likely fall somewhere between the first 5 intense paintings and the last one, above. Here I will be playing around with texture...these have been covered in a molding medium which will catch at the paint in places and give a slightly different feel to the paint strokes.

Support AB 700, The Creative Industries Revitalization Act Today!

I have just sent in my letters of support for this ART/STIMULUS bill, via email (it takes 4 minutes). I appreciate you taking a moment to check it out, and do the same if you align with the bill. You do so here: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/ca/home/

Margeaux

AB 700 invests in the arts and California's communities

AB 700 is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and needs your help to move to the full Assembly at next week's meeting. Arts advocates met with legislators and staff on Wednesday of this week to remind them of the important role the arts play in California's economic recovery. The bill has a new author, Assemblymember Portantio of Pasadena. Please show your support for his leadership by writing to your Assemblymember today. The more people who email their elected officials about this important bill, the stronger the arts voice will be.

Please use this easy method to email your elected officials and then ask your colleagues, friends and family members to do the same. Include examples from your own community in addition to the suggested content below. Make a statement that you believe public investment in the arts of California should be a priority at the state Capitol!

Salt Ponds VI - Large 2' x 4'

An update on this one...shown with the photo on it...

Salt Ponds V - Tryptic

Still a work in progress, this view looks down from over a crimson salt pond onto an expanse of what looks like snow, but of course can't be, down at water level here in the SF Bay Area.

Salt Ponds VI - Large 2' x 4'

This is a very dramatic piece, also a salt pond, but I am not certian if this is a part of the Cargill salts in San Jose, or even elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. It will be stunning, though. Iit deserves to be hung in a space large enough to accomodate viewing from a moderate distance...high up on someone's San Francisco loft wall perhaps?

The Wolf Suit Project

This mask is coming along well. Here you can see that I have added a new layer of clay - a kind I have never worked with before. Activa Air-Dry Clay. I don't sculpt very much (and even then with cement, not clay) so I can't say what the potential applications of this stuff are......BUT it FEELS AMAZING on the hands!! I can't wait to play with it more.

Sad Girl

Painting my feelings today.

Salt Ponds IV (dyptic) - Finished

Perfectionist that I am I could have found hours more of touch up work on this to do, but with a deadline looming....it's DONE!

Everyone love this dyptic, though it's not my favorite per se...I really like Salt Ponds III. The two canvasses are each 28"h 22"w and less than an inch deep. I would suggest hanging them an inch or so apart.

Salt Ponds - so much done, yet so much more to do!

Salt Ponds IV (dyptic)

Half the colors are still off, but it's closer. I have to finish today or tomorrow if I want to submit it.

Salt Ponds III - FINISHED

My personal favorite (so far) of the Salt Pond series. Been working off of photographs, all of the same few ponds. It's amazing but one can actually tell where the various shots are taken from, relative to one another, if you study them long enough.

Salt Ponds IV (dyptic)

Salt Ponds III

Here it is, almost done.

Salt Ponds III

Here it is, in progress.