ANNA; finished!

private collection

There comes a time when an artist knows that to add just one more brush stroke will kill a painting. For "Anna", that time is now. What made me decide this? First, I couldn't think where to continue. That's usually the first indication that one should stop. The second, and most compelling reason is that three people who know Anna, gasped upon seeing the painting as it sat drying on the easel and said, "Is that Anna _____!?" Now I could paint in the gingham pattern in her dress, but I sense that it would distract from her sweet face. I think that simplicity serves this subject best.

So here's Anna, the girl who is always in one of three states; on the go, poised to go, or (as in this painting), having paused for a nano-second from being on the go!

Work In Progress (not yet titled)

This was started with a reference photo from the same shoot as the three little girls. The model is Sarah's little brother, James. After Norman Rockwell fashion, I wanted to use the exaggerated gesture. IBut I didn't have to exaggerate. James was walking goofy, and we caught it on film. It seemed to shout, 'little boy teasing big sister'. If you have any suggestions for a title, please comment. Again, the goal is not a perfect likeness of the boy, but telling a story with paint.

Work In Progress (New Red Dress)

I have been working on a series of child portraits for the last week and a half. You can view the sketches that they are from at Paily Painting Watcher. These will all be rather small; 8 x 10" mostly. I like to tell a story with my models. The exuberant hug and the pretty dress suggested a story of a little girl's gratitude for her new home-sewn dress. Working this small presents some challenges. Getting a likeness on a head that measures one inch square is tricky to say the least. Most portrait artists I know work life size for this reason. But here, I am trying to force myself to simplify, and an exact likeness is not the main goal. The work is more illustration than portraiture. Keep watching. I'll have it done soon.

Grandpa George

aprx 14 x 11 Not For Sale completed May 30

Now that I have my daily works posted up to this point (though pitifully out of sequence) I will begin to post as often as I have a piece that is dry enough to scan. Soon, I hope to set up a site that features my larger works. Just for fun, here is a study I have done for a larger painting. It is of my Brother, George and his grand-daughter on the shore. I borrowed the photo several years ago and tried to do this same painting first in watercolor, then colored pencil, and then in acrylics. It just never seemed right. About three months ago, I began to experiment with oil paints. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I think I'm home. Since I had been graciously asked to return the photo, I only had the black and white blow-ups I copied for value study to work from. The final larger painting, (about half finished) will have a darker sky and a more sunlit shore.