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Showing posts from February, 2014

When being a virgo... drawing studies for a painting

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Once in a while I become, shall we say, obsessively detail oriented. Maybe it is a lack of confidence, or maybe not taking deep enough breaths. Or maybe some details just need attending to. The small owl that I'm painting on linen has become, in my mind, a mural, something large, maybe a frieze on the side of the Mall of America. In other words, it has become disproportionately daunting. Partly because this bird has serious character, and I don't want to miss that. Nor the beauty. Also, I'm painting it for my sister, who has higher standards than there are devices for measuring such things. Many, many owls have been drawn by me over the last weeks. Or rather, the same owl many times over. I remember being told the story of the zen painter (or maybe it was a chinese master?) who was commissioned to paint a rooster. After a few months (years) the customer became impatient, and demanded to be given his painting. "Well, if you are in such a hurr

Tarasque, TARDIS, loneliness

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I get these daily messages from the Enneagram Institute, and this is what barely kept me from rewatching old Doctor Who: The Direction of Growth for Nines is Three. When healthy Nines go to Three, they become self-assured and interested in developing themselves and their talents to the fullest extent possible. How can you more fully develop yourself today? (The Enneagram Institute, Personality Types, p369) Grumble. Still what with snow and children and weekends and such, I am asserting my rebelliousness by not meditating. I think perhaps that I recognize that last bit of identity assertion as being lame. I painted a wee little monster instead of watching a traveling time-lord. May I introduce to you the Tarasque? (hmm. sounds like TARDIS, and similar blue color...) The Tarasque was a monster on a rampage in Nerluc, of Provence, France. According to one story it had a head like a lion, legs like a bear's (but six of them), the body of an ox wearing a turtl

On such a winter day...

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It is beautiful outside, with last night's new fallen snow. We went for a walk in the woods, Lucy and Emile in the wooden sled behind us. Behind Laurent, more accurately, as I did none of the pulling. Then, perversely, I came home and painted this sunny spring abstractish landscapeish painting. Emile and Laurent are back out in the snow, at Roger Williams Park, sledding.

Frogs and reducing media intake

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In an effort to build my anti-sloth muscles, I am trying to cut down on reading, radio, and Dr. Who. I feel happier. I think. Here's a remix of an earlier frog, commissioned by a friend:

Progression of a portrait painting in acrylic

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Nine figures. If you include the jellyfish. Which I do. I thought you might be curious what the process looked like. sketches from photos:  monochromatic acrylic wash sketch on paper: create composite photo: draw on prepared canvas with yellow pastel: go over pastel using cadmium deep orange and a paint brush: correct errors with color paint: go whole hog: Now I think I'll put some matte gel on it to finish. Or maybe some other varnish... I'll have to research this. ETA: the only varnish I found which is non-toxic is the high gloss from Liquitex . I'm not keen on high gloss. So I think I'll skip the varnishing thing.

Snow

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