Detail

Here's a corner detail of my recent painting. The lighting, as usual, is wrong on the right side but you'll get the idea.
I've gone thru hell with this painting...but not about the actual painting. It has to do with a show I'm going to be in where they asked for a 'narrative' about the piece. Somehow, this has become a huge imposition in my head and I've been agonizing, not sleeping, babbling to myself over it.
Then, last night, while not sleeping, I realized this blog is a sort of narrative and I could use parts of it. Went right to sleep and had a dream: the end of the world, of course.

Gelling

I changed the background to a darker yellow with a little orange in it and the whole thing has brightened up considerably. I don't hate it anymore. Also, I finished the basic colors of the building. There are still detail colors and I still might add some animals to the right side. By the way, the blue river is really much darker.

Ok, on another note, here's a giant locust, dead thank god, that I saw in prospect park recently. The Apocalypse may really be coming!

More color

This photo is too light on the right and too dark on the left, but you get the idea, don't you? MORE color. I'm still playing with the idea of changing the background.
I'm sort of depressed today. Do you have days like that? Why am I painting at all? days.

Coming Along

In the middle of the night, I came up with the perfect title for this painting. Damn, I sure wish I could remember what it was. Work Ethic is my working title and I may have to go with it if my thousands of fans don't write in and give me alternatives. Oh, wait, it was something like: To have and have not.
I'm thinking of adding some more details to the river side. Maybe animals.
Mai-Liis says they are amusing but I'm still finding the world of the Romanesque sort of mysterious and impenetrable. The blank staring faces saying so much more than what they represent. In several manuscripts, I've seen that someone scratched out the faces of evil: the devil or that bad guy in the painting. Scratched them out. Why? In anger? For protection? And who? Did the ordinary person have access to these manuscripts? Did a monk do it? What was he or she (OK, more likely He) thinking?
Well, I have a title for a painting with a scratched face: Take away evil.
But right now, let's focus on Work Ethic. Help!

Pill Box Hats finished

I've finished this painting, even done the sides. I don't think the color here is 100% perfect. I have trouble photographing the blue, which is really sort of a dull blue but kept coming out as a strong cobalt blue.
In reality I had put several layers of color before I found the one I like. This blue is over a darker purpley blue which is over that spinach green.
If I wasn't so lazy I would get out my photography set up: the tripod, the lights, the white card, blah blah blah. I will do it when I send the art to Amber, who does my website, but I think you'll get the idea here.
Don't have a name. Any ideas?

Old Stuff/New Stuff

I've started the blacking in of the Locusts picture. And, as you can see, I've changed the spinach green to a brighter blue. Now for a name...Locusts Two?
In the meanwhile, I've been postponing beginning this large painting. It's 48X36, with a lot of detail and color. Originally an ode to the saints who guarded the 12 portals, I've let two of them off to go fishing. Also, I've got to work out the center image of the city. In the original it's an angel herding the lamb of god. No more Lambs! Even though they are cute, I'm trying to get away from the religious stuff.

Spinach

The new locust painting is coming along, nearly finished. But now that all the main colors are laid in, I'm not sure I like that dark green. It sort of reminds me of cooked spinach. I'd like to change it to my original idea, which was a grey blue. Stay tuned.

More Locusts

Don't get all jittery about the red, Cadmium Red medium, to be exact. It's just a temporary layer.
Lots of strong, in your face colors. YUMMY!
In the meanwhile, I'm starting another painting, to keep 2 going all the time. This one is biggish too: 36X48. Sure wish I could work smaller...but this IS small for me.