Blitz

11 x 14 oil on gessobord

This is a study I did today of my husband.  It is not completed as it needs some serious work on the hand - it's too small and not at the right angle.  When I paint sitting down I have distortions that I don't see until I stand.  Anyway I just wanted to post something but it needs another session.   5-7-13:  Worked more on it today and will probably leave it as is.  I posted on top of the previous photo I took last week.

Local Tavern #1

 12 x 12 oil on stretched canvas

Finished this one today in painting group.  I started on it last week but still haven't gotten back into my daily painting yet, just a lot to do this time of year that distracts me from painting.  I need to get back into it  as there is a show coming up in April that I need to have at least 10 to 15 new paintings for (in a larger format than the 6 x 6 and 5 x 7 pieces I have been doing lately).

Hand Study

 6 x 6 oil on canvas panel

I realize that there is not a big market for paintings of a hand however hands are a HUGE challenge for me so I thought I needed to work on one (I was overwhelmed by the thought of painting two).   I asked my patient husband (Blitz) to model for me one night when he was enjoying a glass of wine.   This was a difficult study for me because they are so hard to do - keeping the fingers from looking like little fat sausages.  Hands and fingers have so many joints and bones and it's tough to make them believable looking - but here is my attempt.

Pirate Study

6" x 6" oil on canvas panel

This pirate and I fought for a good chunk of my morning and I'm not sure who won the battle.   My reference photo wasn't too good - not enough color and I had to make it up as I went.  Last summer,  I was in Houston, Texas visiting my sister and we decided to go to Whole Foods where they were celebrating "Pirates Day" or something like that.  This was a customer who was dressed to the nines in pirate costume and he was really into his character.  I asked him if I could take his picture and he was more than eager to oblige.  He was a pretty convincing pirate - never once did he really smile.  I had my flip camera and I was able to film him.   This photo really has a glare, but now on the left side.  I still can't figure out how to photograph these.  The light reflects off of the oils and I am always experimenting with different areas of my house to take these in.  I welcome any suggestions in the "comments" section.