Slowly Inward

I know there may not appear to be much difference between this image and the last, but trust me that the paint is thicker and much of the painting has been slightly adjusted. I'm pretty much done with the flesh now, and just need to finish the foreground and hair clips.



For the heck of it, I thought I'd throw in another desaturated version of the painting. Much of the time, when something looks wrong in a color painting or drawing, the problem is in the values and not the hues.

Inward and Race Pics

First of all, thank you for all the congrats and well wishes with the new gallery! I really love the encouragement.

Pushing forward on the painting; more details to come in the foreground blanked, which is just a base layer at this point. Some of the flesh needs another layer, where it moves from light to shadow, but most of it is looking good to my eyes.


In completely not related to art news, I ran a 10K (6.2 mile) race last Saturday morning. I finished in 1 hour, 9 minutes, 47 seconds, with an average pace of 11 min 15 seconds per mile. There I am coming through the finish line.


It was a bit chilly out that morning, so my dear husband headed out to buy a new coat while I ran. He was back with plenty of time to see me through the finish line, and there he is in his warm new coat. After a couple miles I had warmed up fairly well, thus the discrepancy in clothing choices between us.

News, Updates, and More Inward Progress

First, please let me announce that my work is now represented by Hilliard Gallery in Kansas City, MO! This should prove to be an exciting partnership. Look for show dates and openings in the near future.

Also, I finally updated my website with my newest painting and recent drawings. Sometime soon I feel I should add a new demo or two as well, so stay tuned for that.

Finally, here's a little more progress on the painting. I have done a second layer over the light area of the back as well as starting in with the shadows. The lights may require even a third layer so that it appears thick enough in real life. Often the density of the paint does not come through on the screen.

Inward Progress

That's an interesting title for this post. Anyway, I am sure you can see where progress has been made in comparison to the earlier version. This is a pleasant painting to work on; it just seems to come from the brush(es) slowly but smoothly.

Inward - New Beginning

I started a new painting last night! This is a smallish one, 14" x 11". I seem to do really well with small paintings, so it may be a good idea for me to have a small one going at the same time I have large ones in progress.

Wednesday night I started work on reference for another painting, and Sunday a friend has agreed to come and model for me. Soaking up all this inspiration should help me renew my painting vigor! I plan to begin a new drawing and/or a new painting over the next couple days. Stay tuned.

In other less artsy news, running is going well. Last weekend I ran the KC Marathon 5K right through the Crossroads Arts District and set a new personal record for that distance. Next month I am running my first 10K, wish me luck.

Reflection

I'm saying this is done, though I would not be surprised if I continue to tinker with it for a while. It seems to be that sort of painting.

Now it's time to look for new inspiration. I have a sketchbook with ideas that I have jotted down over the past couple of months; just have to find a way to make them happen.

A Couple More Days

Another couple days, and I should have this one finished. The lower half of the painting looks better in real life; I photographed it with a flash, and so there is a lot of glare towards the bottom especially.

So close!

Still Not Finished

But it's really close! Anyone have any really great ideas for a title? I have a couple in mind, but haven't settled yet.

Article About Danette Velez

Today an article that I authored was published in the Sun about Danette Velez. You can read it online here:

• Woman's love and inspiration will live on

Back to My Painting

Alright, let me get back to posting about art! Here's the current stage of this painting that I have been slowly chipping away at, like, forever. There's still so much of it that is nowhere near complete, and where the only layer of paint is the thin underpainting. It's coming along, though, and I feel it will be completed sooner than I think. I'm over a hurdle, both with this painting, and also hopefully with recent events. Will I now return to my usual workaholic self?

Also thought it would be interesting to post this; it's the painting, but completely desaturated. Looking at a painting in black and white can give you a lot of great information, and it's important that it all make sense visually when the color isn't there.

October 2nd - Where am I?

Yes, I am still here! I am still painting, slowly, in between all the other things I have been trying to juggle. I feel a little funny about posting news about Danette between all the nude images, so I am going to wait a while before I post more progress pictures.

Last month took a lot out of me emotionally, for sure. There are a couple projects going on for the Velez family, and I am writing a guest column for the Sun about Danette that will be published next week. I am also training for a 10K, so sleep has become slightly more important to me now, reducing the amount of time I get to spend doing other (more important!) things.

Please stay tuned. More paintings, drawings, and writings are to come, I anticipate at an increased pace!

I the meantime, here's a bit of randomness:

Take a look at that building... there's a house on top of it! I lived just a few blocks from here in Syracuse, NY (where the sky is always gray) as a young child, and there were stories about the mean old man who owned that house, so concerned with his profit that he lived right there on top of the building. I wonder what the real story was.

That brown building right next to the red one was a Key Bank when I was a little girl. I remember going there weekly with my mother, and thinking how magical it was, and how fortunate she was, to go somewhere that the people actually gave away money.

A Week Ago Today - Danette Velez

Early in the morning last Thursday, my friend Danette passed away. You may remember her from previous posts if you've read my blog for some time. If not, you can read my first post about her, when I completed a celebratory "I'm cancer free!" portrait. Her cancer returned, and I completed this second painting, and this post has a wonderful image of her portable shrine and an article about her courage and optimism.

Once again, I am without words that can describe how I feel (except maybe denial!), honor her memory, or truly give a hint as to the impact this woman had on so many people. Literally, I have been out in public with her portrait and had numerous people recognize her image and stop to talk about what a 'bright spirit' she is. Children would recognize her face and smile at the sunny image of Miss Danette. People who never even met her would be touched by the image of this happy, optimistic woman who was in the midst of battling cancer. Over at this CaringBridge webpage, that her family set up for her, some 13,000 people have visited, and hundreds have signed the guestbook and shared memories and loving thoughts. You can also read some entries from her journal, which family members have been posting here and there, and just get a glimpse into the kind of woman she was.

Friday at 3pm there will be a 'Celebration of Life' memorial service for her at Unity Church of Overland Park. Danette leaves behind a husband who carries the same 'bright spirit,' and 5 beautiful children who reflect the souls their parents, as well an extended family. A trust fund has been set up for the family; please consider giving if you are moved to do so:

Danette Velez Fund

First National Bank of Olathe

PO Box 1500

Olathe, KS 66051-9901

This woman was simply amazing, and I am so gifted for having known her. Thank you, Danette, for your friendship.

Legs

Unfortunately, there is a lot of glare in this photo, especially in the shadows of the thighs. Hopefully the effect of the shadows is not totally lost.

The legs are the least lit area of this figure, and so I am trying to keep a relatively narrow value range here. Also, the value of much of the rest of the painting will come down, too, as I continue to paint. The idea is to allow certain areas and edges to become lost in the shadow, which will cause the lights to have just that much more impact.

Stay tuned as I slowly make my way through this one.

Standing Nude Painting In Progress

Here you can see where I've put another layer on the butt and thigh areas. Seems like a logical place to start to me! This way I have a reference right in the middle of the painting, instead of starting at one end and changing things by the time I get to the other end. There's also a medium value range here, as opposed to the dark range in the legs and the highlights in the shoulders, and there's much less detail to worry about than in areas with more muscle and bone definition, such as the back.

Wondering if this is Finished

I think this may be done. I like the gentle rendering, so it doesn't feel over done, but I am also wondering if the graphite is dark enough for the heavily toned paper. Maybe it needs a little charcoal in the shadows? I'll think about it, and concentrate on my painting for a while.

Drawing and Painting and Drawing Some More!

In addition to working on the drawing above and the painting below, I have also put some finishing touches on a couple other drawings. Perhaps I will post those in a day or two, here and/or on my website.

Back

I'm back, and I'm drawing a back! I have been working on things slowly but steadily since I returned home. There have been some events that have left me speechless, and if words come to me about them, I will share. Meanwhile, I have kept myself busy finishing up some drawings, finishing a proposal, starting this drawing, and working on a few other projects. Hopefully now I will be able to get back to my painting full force.

Drawing is fun. I've gathered some new paper to play with and add some variety to the drawings. The color above is galled "Pottery Green." I can't wait to see how the white conte looks on it.

In Loving Memory of My Grandma

From left to right; my mother, my grandmother, myself
at my mother's wedding this summer.

Shortly after my last post, I got a phone call from my mother. This was followed later in the afternoon my another call, and a final call late that night. My grandma had died.

I don't usually discuss personal experiences or thoughts on my blog; generally I stick to the topic of my art and related events, but today I feel like sharing.

For the past several hours I've been trying to write my thoughts about my grandma, and describe what she meant to me and to my family and who she was as a person. Of course, a person cannot be encapsulated in a blog entry, so I have decided instead to tell a favorite story about her.

Growing up, I waited all year every year to feast on Grandma's pumpkin pie. I wouldn't allow myself to eat it at any other time of year, or else I felt like I was cheating. On Thanksgiving day, I had to wait patiently for everyone to finish dinner, and let it settle for a while before breaking into dessert. She knew I loved the pie, and would make enough so that some could be sent home with me.

When I realized that moving away from Syracuse would mean that I may not get to participate in this annual indulgence, I started nagging her for the recipe. Eventually, a year after I had moved and she was visiting KC, she finally shared her secret recipe with me. I believe her exact words were, "Oh, get a can of Libby's and read it!"

I now refer to it as "Grandma's World Famous 'Get a Can of Libby's and Read It!' Pumpkin Pie."

Standing Nude - Beginning the Painting

I'm finally working on a larger canvas again! This is 36" x 18". Of course, it would be more exciting on a 48" x 24" canvas, but I am not sure I have enough room. Maybe next time.

This is all just loosely blocked in with thinned oil paint. Several more layers to follow.

"Pensive," Done

"Pensive"
Oil on Panel, 16" x 12"