Self-Portrait Is Almost Complete, New Aslan Portrait In Progress.

Background And Sweater

It's kind of crazy, isn't it, that I'm posing in a sweater in 100+ degree Arkansas Weather? It was just the right shapes. I believe I'm nearing completion on this, and should be finishing it up this week. I realize that some people will say that the gravely serious expression doesn't feel like me, but I really just wanted that intensity. I've tried doing nice guy, down to earth self portraits, and found them terribly boring. Let's do somethng that looks a little more daring and exciting in the painting, which is how I'd want to paint someone else, too. If I look like I'm condescending the viewer, that may be part of the theatre of doing a self-portrait. It's all in fun. The hands still need some anatomical work, and really, little things all around could use a little pizazz, but I have all week to play around with them.

Ripe Figs, Dragonflies, Swimming, and Grilling In the Rain

I have still been painting this weekend, but have forgotten to photograph my progress. I've had such a beautiful weekend that it's been quite a distraction. My son, Aslan has a new talent of catching dragonflies. He waits outside with his thumb in the air, and they are strangely drawn to land directly on his thumb. When he wants to keep one, he simply clamps down with his forefinger.

We've set up the pool, and have been swimming and grilling all weekend. The figs on our fig tree are ripe for the picking, and we're making all kinds of things from fig icecream and grilled figs to fig cobbler. I simply must share with you what we had on the grill today. Here we have lamb kabobs with lamb raised by our friend, Ragan. Not shown are the burgers made with free-range buffalo. We have potatoes on top, fig kabobs basted in pinapple juice and cinnamon, which tastes remarkably like roasted marshmallows, and unbelievably delicious roasted pineapples. More pintings for you next time!

Self-Portrait Is Coming Along.

I've now added the hand, modeled the clothing, blocked in the palette and some background information. This could be the easiest painting I've ever done, but only because I did such exhaustive preparatory work underneath. I will further model the stuff in the foreground. I was thinking of leaving it more unfinished and wacky, but I wasn't feeling it. I really want some crusty medium cups that look like metal and a palette that feels like real wood. This is great fun.

Notice how much better the whole head looks since the last blog entry. I've taken out those excessive highlights, and instead established the major planes. The head feals more lifelike and not so rubbery, and I believe the likeness is better..

Modeling Head and Shoulders

It was actually my intention to make a sneaky reference to dutch portraiture, but it's probably pretty obvious. I don't mind, though. I looked at many renaissance and baroque portraits in Chicago recently, and wanted to try imitating some of their devices. The hand is still an underpainting.


The head is well along, but still needs work.

Tonally Bananas, Self-Portrait Stage 2

I'm still working on the transparent underpainting, and am working out some background information. This is lots of fun.

Here's a tonal painting of some bananas. It's painted entirely in an earth palette, and I've later added some cadmium yellow. It's not finished.

Painting Party Part II, Portrait of Patrice

We had a wonderful visit with Mike and Patrice. Tonight, we painted as we watched the Kenneth Clark "Civilisation" series. I feel pretty good about this quick study of Patrice. It is about 24"x18".

This is what the painting looked like at the end of last night.