Monthly Studio Update - September, 2004

Non-Studio Update:

Just got the electricity on after the hurricane which passed overhead! September 7th, will up date in a day or two...or three, or now on the 16th!

 

I have just started up Naissance Atelier. I begin classes, here in my studio, on Oct. 9th and 10th. For information go here: www.NaissanceAtelier.org

 

 

Kant is dense, rich, and complex 18th Century philosopher. He wrote an aesthetic treatise, The Critique of Judgement, in which his concepts of the Sublime anticipates Postmodern aesthetics and art. In preparation for a book Stephen Hicks and I are writing on Postmodern aesthetics and art I have informally started a thread on SoloHQ on Kant.

 

Studio Updates:

I have been in a bit of a funk for some weeks, perhaps it had something to do with Kant! On my birthday, last week, I worked with Kimberly for 3-hours and drew this pastel. I knew I wanted to draw something extroverted and fun and Kimberly was great. You can imagine how difficult holding up her arms would be, we diveded up the pose with many, many breaks.

Kimberly, 2004, pastel on black-gessoed paper, 19 x 27, available.

 

I photographed the process of making the drawing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later it was 9/11. And it happend to be a gorgeous day here in Florida; I grabbed black paper, all my pastels, and a outdoor easel and drew landscapes. I love to see, and capture, the beauty of light and color; and I love to feel the wind and heat when I am drawing.

 

Clouds, 2004, pastel on black paper, 14 x 24", available.

 

Bridge Ruins, 2004, pastel on black paper, 16 x 24", available.

 

Pond, 2004, pastel on black paper, 18 x 24", available.

 

Underpass, 2004, pastel on black paper, 16 x 24", available.

 

 

The portrait of Joseph is progressing though I have only been able to work with the model for a few hours a month, he modeled yesterday. There really isn't much more to do and, yet, I will paint a few subtle things that will make a dramatic difference for me.

 

Joseph, work in progress, acrylic on canvas panel, 12 x 16"

 

Carlos, work in progress, charcoal on Rives BFK, 17 x 24"

Now that I have gotten the body's forms of Carlos more or less in place I am looking forward to blasting it with light and emotion. We have had to postpone its completion due to the interuption by hurricanes!

 

Venus, work in progress, oil on linen, 4 x 4'

Kimberly, the same model for the pastel above has been the stand-in for Venus. I love how she is coming along but I have a nagging problem to solve color-wise and that is that the painting is essentially two colors: blue and scarlet. What I will do is find a strong color, a 3rd color, that will be a bridge between the blue and scarlet, and use it as a kind of base in all the areas which are not directly in the shadows and which are not directly in the light. I hope the result will give more sparkle to the hot colors and give a flowing transition into the shadows. That's the plan!

 

There are also 3 other projects I am painting, one of which is the Toucan Table and Class Jar below. In a general way, if everything works, which is about a 1/6th of the time, in a realistic piece I like to work the background first, setting up the context, and then save the finishing part for the main subject. That process tends to keep my focus on the importance of the entire painting and not get all wrapped up in the subject and leave the background for fluff.

 

Toucan Table and Class Jar, work in progress, oil on canvas panel, 12 x 16".

 

That is September's update.