Sasha - Day 1

Sasha - Day 1, 36"x60", Oil on Linen, 2017

Alison 3/16/17

Alison 03/16/17, Oil on Linen, 36"x 60", 2017

Bernardo's class opened with a lecture on Raphael.

This painting has a real presence to it. I am starting to get the hang of this particular painting technique.

Alison 03/02/17

Alison 03/02/17, Oil on Canvas,  30"x48", 2017.

Bernardo's class opened with a lecture on Michelangelo and Leonardo. They really play off each other thematically. Aristotelian vs. Neoplatonism, atmospheric haze vs. solid form; plenty of discussion to be had. 

Think I'm getting the hang of this painting method. Not closing the shapes is super difficult for me, but I think I did okay with this one. I keep visualizing the painting,  like a net or a bowl where the surface of the form is this shape. Then thin points in the painting read like holes in the net. So each pass of paint and marks becomes trying to fill in those holes.

Large Painting #4 - Day 5

Large Painting #4 -  Day 5 , Oil on Canvas, 72"x48" 2017. 

Large Painting #4 - Day 4

Large Painting #4 -  Day 2 , Oil on Canvas, 72"x48" 2017. 

Anatomical Drawing 2017 #1 Final

Reign and Dave, Graphite on paper 18"x 24" 2017 .

Large Painting #4 - Day 3

Figures #4 -  Day 3 , Oil on Canvas, 72"x48" 2017. 

Third day, working with the dead palette again. Major focus was defining the second figure.

The central figure looks kind of stiff. Its some problem with the drawing of his legs.

Large Painting #4 - Day 2

Figures  #4 -  Day 2 , Oil on Canvas, 72"x48" 2017. 

Today I started the dead palette (yellow ocher, flesh ocher and cold black). I spent most of the day blocking in the space and the major figures.

The biggest change is to the second figure. I reshaped an earlier maquette into this pose and blocked it in the outline.  I am finding working this particular way that it is easy to lean on distortion and anger for an emotional response. Its really easy to tear apart of break the form. I wonder what is the extent of this emotional vocabulary.

Its starting to pull together.

Large Painting #4 - Day 1

Figures #4 - Day 1, Oil on Canvas, 72"x 48", 2017. 

This is the fourth of the 5 paintings that I'm working on for my thesis,

Working from the clay models then translating them into a painting has been very productive.

I am working from a few small study drawings that lead me to this image. Standing in front of the 6 foot image the half figure is a little less interesting and reading very zombie movie. The distortions of the figures im trying to make them look less gory more that is an intrinsic state of the figure.

Today I toned the canvas with Cadmium Red then worked in Raw Umber for the initial under painting.

I think tomorrow im going to start on the dead palette.

Il Papa

Il Papa, 9"x12", watercolor on paper. 2017.

Got a commission from a friend to do a watercolor for his mother's birthday.  It is a pretty straight- forward picture of the pope. This was an easy commission, given my Catholic upbringing.

It's photo-based so there is not a lot to write about. I did make an active effort to make the pools of watercolor rhythm across the page. My illustrator skills are getting stronger.

I did get to see Pope Francis last year when he was in New York. I do like the general change of direction he represents. Plus, he's a Jesuit and St Francis is a great namesake AND the subject of an amazing Bellini painting.

“In the face of unjust and painful situations, 

faith brings us the light which scatters the darkness.”

Pope Francis