Friday, August 14, 2015

Delicious Monster

This piece has been kicking about the studio for months, somewhat neglected, largely because I usually have a Sebbie to be working on as well (still do!) and several other things to boot. But it's my delicious monster--I set up a still life deliberately so full of junk I'd have to change my usual way of painting to approach it. It's ridiculous, and that's why I love it. It's still not finished (blame Sebbie), but it's getting closer. It's taking longer than it should because I was super lazy with the drawing in the beginning and am now playing for my sins by having to fix everything (students, n.b. here you'll find me illustrating what NOT to do, please learn from my frustration). Anyway, that's what's on the easel at the moment, or at least what's on THAT easel.  




Sunday, August 2, 2015

Figure painting extravaganza

Yikes. Where to start? I spent the last week immersed in figure painting. It was kind of wonderful. The Academy of Realist Art here in Boston hosted a figure painting competition: ten artists from around the country (and Paris, but let's pretend that's part of our country, too--think of all the time we'd save in customs), one model, forty hours of painting over five days, a reception and awards at the end. I was lucky enough to be one of the artists along with Ryan Brown, Kerry Dunn, Joshua Langstaff, Rachel Moseley, Carlo Russo, Camie Isabella Salaz, Shane Wolf, Elizabeth Zanzinger and Emanuela De Musis. It was so very inspiring to paint around these fantastic painters, to learn from their techniques and be inspired by their talents and visions. I couldn't post during the week as the work had to remain anonymous for judging purposes, so I'm posting a series of progress shots as well as my finished piece. In the end, Shane won first place, Camie second, and I am totally honored to have won third.

Finished piece (best picture I have of it at this point):


Day one: 


Day two:


Day three:


Day four:



Day five:





Update: all the finished pieces can be seen here.