Remember and Inspire.

I'm currently building up a portfolio of works that have a cohesive theme with a solo show in mind. I don't even know yet what venue I will approach yet to host it. But I know this for sure; I must have a significant body of finished works to present.

The theme is pairing a human made object, such as the silverware here, with a bird or other flying creature. I'm thinking a butterfly for this one. My goal is to have at least 50 finished works in the collection by September 2019. I've got a good start and I'm quite encouraged. The artists who inspire me shoot for at least one finished painting a week. Some are so prolific that they work on several at a time, thus completing several a week. I am in the process of finding out what I can reasonably expect from my own hands. So...I started experimenting about three weeks ago, beginning 2-4 paintings per day and trying to finish at least one or two per week.

I have found this to be quite an efficient way to work. It allows a painting time to dry in between sessions and I can work in glazes to achieve more depth. I don't lose momentum while a painting is awaiting the next glaze because there is always something else in progress or a new work to start. Some days I am only able to work toward completion of one or two but don't quite make it. As of now I have five completed paintings in the collection, four in the process, and seed ideas for about 15 more. I would say this one will probably be completed sometime early next week. So stay tuned. 

I wiped out the glass and started over on this painting at least six times. I still don't like it but setting it aside until I figure out how to fix it. 

I paint. I am NOT a photographer! I am in awe of the photos other artists take of their own work and always wondered how they did that. So I read up on some simple ways to get clearer and more true to original photos without having to hire a pro. I found all sorts of fancy equipment but little on how to make my own light box that would be big enough to handle larger paintings. Today was breakthrough day! I took the flexible poles from a child's play tent and used the base as a pattern to make a new one out of canvas (base) and shower curtain (walls). The shower curtain was not really big enough but it still diffused the light enough for me to get some better shots. What a difference this made! Very little glare from the paint and the clarity is waaaayy better. With a little practice, I think I might just nail this.

"Steambath" is 12" x 12" oil on gessoed hardboard. I prefer the smooth finish and stable hard surface over canvas. It's easier for me to sketch in a few values before beginning the painting when the surface is not bouncing up and down with my favorite mechanical pencil. And there's no risk of poking my pencil through like I did when I got a little zealous with a canvas once. I'm not quite finished. A few more refinements; fix the wayward elipse on the lid, add the steam, of course, and get a little more crisp edge on the handle. Then get a high resolution photograph and she's good to go.