These are small, quick direct paintings in which I'm trying not to overwork the skin tones. It's Émile, of course, but looks completely different in each attempt. I plan to continue until the sheet is full. I think I'm getting the discipline to not keep going back for one more wash of color. So far I'm happiest with the center one.
Another snow scene. I'm fascinated with the different looks and feels of snow. This is the day after a snowfall, when everything is sunny and quiet and clean. In keeping with that, I decided not to include the tangled web of wires coming off the telephone pole.
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| 8.25" square |
I only pay attention to what things really look like inasmuch as if you get too far off base it takes the viewer out of the picture. If a texture I am using looks better than what it really is I always choose it without giving it any further thought.
Feb 27 painting is a juxtaposition of my husband's pictures: the right side of his face in 2021 & the left side of his face in 1971. The present self has a winter background of bare trees & snow & it featured thinning hair & whiskers of pandemic reality. The younger self has a tropical background of bamboo trees, mountains & turquoise waters & it featured thick wavy hair heavy with pomade & clean shaven youthfulness. Although there was a half century difference, his facial bony structures stayed the same since he was skinny as a young man & he became skinny again last year after some health issues!. The side by side faces look weird as a whole but is acceptable when viewed separately! Happy painting fellow artists!
I keep buying fruit because I’m trying to eat healthy but I feel that I must paint them before I eat them. Pen and ink with watercolor on cold press in my scrapbook
I tried another pen and ink with watercolor of me playing golf
I didn’t like it so I painted another one without the ink and liked it better
42a) Charles Burchfield. Winter Light, Backyard. 1949-60
42b) Alex Katz. Winter Scene. 1951-52.
42c) Gerhard Richter. Forest (12). 2005
43a) Deigo Rivera, MADRE Y NIÑA, 1939
43b) Einar Jolin (1890-1976) Swedish
43c) Winold Reiss, Father and Two Children, St. Helena, 1927,
mixed media on board, 30 x 22.5 in.
44a) Lionel Fitzgerald, From an Upstairs Window, Winter, c.1950-51
44b) Robert Strong Woodward, The North Window
47b) Boy with cat (Jean Bourgoint) 1926, Christopher Wood
The idyllic scene of a hiker/runner. I do wish Chicagoans would wear bright colors in winter as this woman is doing.
Yes, I did snow too! This isn't the massive snowfall we just had, needless to say. You can tell since you can actually see the fence and other features.
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| Beagle in the Backyard 12" x 9" |
I was thinking of leaving a white page in my sketchbook to document the snow, but instead, I waited a day and tried to get the icicles. The day after, they were long and sparkling in the sun.
The next day, they were even longer, denser and sparklier. I had a hard time capturing that sparkle. I finally added silver; unfortunately, you have to turn the page to the side before you can see it. The icicles are getting longer every day; now they are an actual ice curtain that extends below the windows and down a whole floor. I may try to sketch them again until I get something I'm happy with.
Oh, and I wanted to remind myself of a "Lockdown Lesson" I learned: Don't wear black on baking day! You can see the dusting of flour if you zoom in.
I painted drinking Joe (again) on the first one. He looks a little happier and the composition is pared down. I like it better. The boards are 5x7. It’s like painting on hot press. It says you can layer paints but it seems like everything lifts and it lifts unevenly, so it leaves a lot of brushstrokes, which gives it a little texture.
You’re supposed to wet it first and let dry a bit, which I didn’t do with this one. So I did that and then painted this portrait.
I really couldn’t tell a difference between the two. The portrait looks much blotchier in person because the paint lifts so unevenly. Not sure I would recommend these boards, but they weren’t too expensive so they’re worth a try. The paint sits up on the surface, so the effect is more like an oil painting, where you can see brushstrokes.
On Feb 16, the day of 18 inches snowfall, I accompanied my sister to her same day shoulder surgery at St. Francis hospital. It was a scary day to go out much less have a surgery. But we were able to accomplish a lot from the 6 a.m. departure from house to 6 p.m. arrival from hospital. The day was filled with kindness from friends & strangers! From the neighbor who cleared our sidewalk the whole block from Berwyn to Summerdale with his snow blower.The ladies of early morning who shoveled a pathway among thigh high snow so that we could enter the car at Ashland from our house. Our neighbor driver who dug his car early at dawn, took us to hospital, came back to pick us up after surgery, & patiently waited until we pick up our meds & comfort food. The medical personnel who explained the procedure with respect & performed the surgery with competence & compassion. And the list went on. I waited for my sister during her 3 hour surgery in her hospital room. I took a nap & then sketched the scenery outside the hospital window. The tall sturdy tree dominated the landscape outside. Its graceful & elegant branches, heavy with snow,
I just ran across this watermelon vodka cocktail that I made last summer at the lake and it made me smile. I just quickly added it to my sketchbook. I will probably never make this one again since it involves removing watermelon seeds from the juice. It was refreshing though.
Then here’’s my obligatory window winter tree scene.I just used blue and yellow. I kind of like the crisp graphic styles this . It 6x8.
