CMYK Rose

Three hours, magenta, yellow, cyan, black, white.  The reference is from a pic I took in Brooklyn last June.
8x10 oil on linen panel

Here are the paints.  They were on sale at Jerry's Artarama.  They are really cool and fun to work with.  I want to try them with optical mixing in glazes.

 

My Sweet Rose (after Waterhouse)

I have been working on this painting since January.  It's big, and it was difficult and frustrating, but was a great learning experience.   This painting also prompted me to get my new easel, which was a long-overdue upgrade.

24x36  (61x91cm)  oil on canvas
(click image for larger view)

I have also been studying like mad.
Finished these 2 books cover to cover:

And have made serious progress reading these:

Plein Air #42 & #44

I went out painting on Friday, then yesterday did another little painting while Daya was playing.
All weekend I have been feeling so discouraged with plein air...but will keep at it.

#42 6x8 oil on panel

I did a color version of the same scene but it turned out pretty awful.  The weather was colder than expected, I got tired, and my mind was just not clear.

Here is #43, 6x8 oil on panel, a quick tree study from the playground.  The sky needs another layer, because the venetian red tone was lifting and came through.  That's what happens from toning panels last-minute.

 

I will probably start tweaking my paintings at home from now on...so far once the outdoor session is done, so is the painting.  Perhaps now I will try and focus on both the mechanics of outdoor painting and also getting a good end result even if that means going back into the painting at home.  Most plein air painters do this.  Perhaps I am being too ambitious to try and get it all done in one session.

This plein air stuff is really difficult.  It is frustrating that I can do a decent alla prima still life in the same time and size as plein air, the the plein air is hit or miss... more often a miss.  I need to keep reminding myself...plein are really is a lot more difficult, and I am still very much a newbie to it.  Also, I never did any landscape before I started plein air.  First 120 paintings before you *begin* to pregress... that's where it starts........ I'll get there eventually, given my time restrictions it just takes me longer than most.  But this is something I *really* want to get good at, and every single available chance I get, I go out to practice and i take local workshops.

It just seems like not enough sometimes.

From the Sketchbook

I need to draw more and spend more quality time with my sketchbook.
Here is a little graphite drawing from tonight...this is a portrait of Nichole from the January portrait challenge over at WC.

Notarized Lunch

I took a walk this afternoon and encountered this Indian food truck on the corner of 39th and 6th...which is also, apparently, a Notary Public.

Sandra's Painting

My friend Sandra painted a picture of me!  This is a photo taken by Drusilla from this past December.  I'm painting in the snow in Central Park.  It was really cold that day!  The painting was never finished, I really should do that.

Sandra's painting (posted with permission):

 Dru's photo:

Tea for One: White

My white porcelain teapot.
8x10 oil on canvas panel

Tea for One: Black

Tea for One
8x10 oil on canvas panel

New Easel and Some Torrit Trees (#41)

I got a new easel!  It's about time too, my largest easel has been a full size Julian, it is extremely rickety and I had to fold in the legs and put it on top of my drawing table.  It was all right for small work but... since I started the Waterhouse painting in January, which is quite large, well let's just say things have been uncomfortable.  It's just not fun to stand on a chair just to reach the top of the painting.

Here is my beautiful new easel!

On Tuesday I went out painting in Central Park again.  It was COLD, even my snow-loving self got chilly after one painting.  I'm going to be doing tonal studies for plein air for a while- no color. I need the practice with values, and they are fun to do.  It's actually nice to not have to worry about color.

Torrit Trees (because I used  Gamblin's Torrit Grey)
6x8 oil on panel

For some reason I can't paint skinny trees no matter how hard I try....

The Record-Breaking Dentist Appointment

I got my teeth cleaned today-and I was in and out of the dentist's office in a half hour!  Including x-rays!

I Love Oil Paint

(Not shown: 4 more tubes in transit from Blick.)

Day 28

Last day!  :)
Joy today is having all my dishes and clothes clean!!

Day 27

Joy today was a nice day out with friends at the museum of natural history.  I love it there.

Day 26

Joy...my Daniel Gerhartz dvd arrived!

Day 25

We got a lot of snow, and I am working from home.  School is also closed.  Joy today is being able to stay home and drink tea all day.

Day 24

Joy is more snow!  What a great winter.  :)

Day 23

Joy today is getting LOTS of stuff done and feeling accomplished- cat went to the vet, Daya went to the dentist, and we went to see a movie with friends after wards.

Day 22

Joy today is my Oily Girls over at WetCanvas.  It's wonderful  to have such caring, supportive, intelligent, and talented friends.

I'm working on a neverending painting... well, I hope it ends!! I have to get through the tedious part... here is a detail  sneak-preview!  (ignore the background; it is blacked out on purpose)

Day 21

Joy today is painting. (again)

Day 20

My friend and I took the kids to Chuck E Cheese today.  My daughter loves it there- me, not so much.  But she had fun.

Joy today was LEAVING and going home!

The 2010 Portrait Exchange

Back in November I did a drawing and painting of Dave- my portrait swap partner.  He is a wonderful gentleman from Wales, with a great face. 

I mailed Dave's portrait out this past Tuesday morning via regular airmail- I was shocked when Dave sent me a note early Friday morning that it had already arrived!!

 

Here is a pic of the lovely painting and drawing I got from Dave!  (Images posted with permission.)

Thanks Dave for being such an awesome portrait swap partner!

Day 19

Joy today is FRIDAY!

Day 18

Joy today is oil paint.  I finally spent some time at the easel for the first time this year.  :)

Day 17

Joy today is Tylenol, because my head and shoulders really hurt a lot...a hot shower didn't fix it, but the Tylenol is working.  So I am glad it is here.

Day 16

Joy today is getting my driver's license renewed.  Now that might seem an odd thing to be a joy- but since I was told growing up that I wouldn't be able to drive due to my wonky eyes, it's a big deal to me.  Even the trip to the DMV was painless and relatively fast.

I think the eye dr I had as a teen wasn't a particularly good one-  since he might have contributed to the no driving thing.  He also told me once that I have no peripheral vision, which is completely wrong.  My vision field is, as my eye dr today said, textbook perfect.  And he would know, since I have to take a visual field test every year.

Day 15

Joy today is a whole entire day to not have to do anything, go anywhere, run any errands, or take my daughter out,

Day 14

Joy today is unexpected alone time while my daughter is at a no-parents birthday party!  And even better, her friend is also vegetarian!  It's good for her to have peer support.   :)

Day 13

Joy is getting my portrait swap painting in the mail!!!  Almost a month and a half after it was sent- we thought it was lost in the mail and I was very sad. I painted Dave, and Dave painted me!  Picture later.

Day 12

Joy is a hot bath with grapefruit lemon soap.

Day 11

Joy today is evening silence.

Day 10

Joy today is good friends.

Day 9

Snow!!
I don't have to drive in it, I don't have to shovel it.  Joy.  :)

Day 8

I am feeling joyful today about the snowstorm that is coming tomorrow night!!