Jake - Progress

Still working on "Jake" and I hope to complete it relatively soon. I'm also working feverishly on "Lust" in the studio. Sometime in the next couple days I will post my first layer of that painting.

Life Painting Completed

I'm really very happy with the way this painting turned out. This model and another model from December also both posed for me last night for my next sin painting, "Lust." I can't wait to get started on it this week!

Sunday Figure Painting Classes

Above is the painting I am currently working on during the Sunday Figure Painting classes in my studio. There's room for more to join us, so if you are interested please be sure to contact me at Lacey (at) Lacey-Lewis.com. We will meet March 1st, 8th, 22nd, and 29th from 10am-1pm and the cost is $120 for all for classes. All skill levels welcome.

"Jake" Progress

I didn't get to work on this Tuesday or Wednesday because I was running around getting other stuff done, but I did get a few hours in on it today. The pictures aren't that great because it's not with the good camera, but you can still get a decent idea of what's happening.

"Sloth"

I totally forgot to come and post this now that I am done with it. "Sloth" oil on linen 48" x 72". I should be getting started on the next deadly sin next week. This week I will be working on "Jake."

One Finished, One Started

I finished the painting above yesterday, though I still don't have a name for it. Suggestions, anyone? It seems the subject has come out looking a little upset, and she's kind-of squashed between those black stripes on either end of the canvas, so I have had little ideas of what she might be apprehensive about, but am interested in what others see in this one. You will notice if you look closely that, relatively speaking, I have left the fabric in the background unfinished. I decided I don't leave things as-is enough, and felt the fabric was fairly-well defined and added a contrast to the flesh.

On to the next one. This is a quick scrub-in I did last night for my painting, "Jake." All that is on this canvas right now is ivory black+OMS in the background and a couple other spots, burnt umber+OMS scrubbed into the flesh areas, and then black+titanium white (to make it look cooler, or more 'blue') +OMS for the jeans. I really look forward to working on this one again, and hope to get it finished-up in a jiffy!

P.S. My painting "Sloth" is practically finished. Just a couple details and a signature and I will be all set. I'd post an update, but I don't have a picture from my good camera.

Sloth - Getting So Close!

I'm working really hard to get this finished up! I have yet to work on the lower section of red on the sofa, the legs, or the floor. After I get to that stuff, I think it will just be a little tweaking here and there across the composition.

This pic is cropped from the larger image, so some of the detail is lost.

I've been adding highlights by scumbling. I start by mixing up a very light color, in this case titanium white mixed with ultramarine blue, pthalo turquoise, and ivory black. Obviously, the mixture is almost completely white. I dab a small amount onto the canvas in the areas to be lightened. Then, I take a clean, old bristle brush that is in pretty bad shape and I would not otherwise use for painting, and I use it to scrub the paint thinly over the surface.

As paint builds up on the brush, I wipe it off on a rag and then begin scrubbing again. This helps create a nice glow as the underneath layers are visible through lighter top layer. In the above images, already scumbled areas include the forehead, brow bones, and upper cheek. The nose, chin, and lower cheek are waiting to be done.

Sunday Life Painting - Week 1

I get two more Sundays to work on this one. I am happy with this so far, except for the lower hand. Didn't have time to refine it and get it the right shape and size before the session was over. This is all on a little 10" x 8" panel.

Sloth - Additions and Adjustments II

I have a much better image of this area today. Of course, keep in mind that much of the canvas in this area has still not been painted other than the very first under layer. The bottle, pills, remote, and hand are nearly finished, though. I will add some of the cool blue/turquoise color the pills especially and work some more on the details of the buttons. Oh, and I changed the shadows from last time. Still not sure they are right where they need to be.

I was hoping to go ahead and get this painting done this week, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Maybe I need to accept the idea that I could be working on this for the rest of my life!

Sloth - Additions and Adjustments

Unfortunately I don't have a better image of this that shows the red of the bottle, etc., but I have added a prescription bottle with pills, and moved the location of the remote. Can anyone guess where the bottle is from? However, I think my shadows might be going slightly in the wrong direction. I am looking into it.

Kansas City, KS Arts Blog

I've started yet another blog! This one highlights the arts in KC, KS. I am posting any info that comes to me about the arts in KCK, and will also highlight local arts groups and individual artists.

Check it out: http://kcksarts.blogspot.com/

Please subscribe by entering your email in the box in the upper right-hand corner. Don't worry, it won't send your email address to me!

Also, don't forget about the KCKSARTS Yahoo! Group!

Painting Updates

Here's a closeup of Sloth's face. Today I worked on the lower hand and started sketching in the remote control. I do, in fact, have an old VCR remote at the studio that I am using for a reference.


I've been working on this one at home, but feel the forward leg went too orange. Back to work I go!

Legislative Alert from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

HOUSE PASSES ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE; ARTS FUNDING INTACT

ACTION ALERT: CONTACT SENATORS

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, January 28, passed the economic stimulus legislation – H.R.1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – with provisions intact allocating $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. All Republican House members, joined by 11 Democrats, voted against the measure.

TAKE ACTION: The Senate expects to vote on its version of the stimulus legislation the week of February 2. If you have not yet done so, please contact your senators urging their support to retain the $50 million allocation for the National Endowment for the Arts when the economic stimulus legislation takes final shape by including the provision passed by the House, with 40% of the NEA funds going to state arts agencies and the remainder distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects that preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector.

Reach your senators by phone through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or by email at http://www3.capwiz.com/mygov/dbq/officials/

• Public funding for the arts is a sound investment in states and communities facing tough economic conditions.
• The arts generate jobs, tax revenues and consumer spending.
• NEA funds to state arts agencies will enable state support for the arts to continue where a depressed economy has resulted in revenue shortfalls.

In the days leading up to the House floor debate on the bill, the arts funding had been singled out by critics of the legislation as an example of needless spending. When the measure came to the House floor on Wednesday, Rep. David Obey (D-WI), chair of the Appropriations Committee and floor manager for the bill, asserted that such claims caused the debate to become “incredibly trivialized.” In defense of the spending decisions made in the bill, he pointed out that the “arts funding in this bill is a tiny fraction of this entire bill . . . about 6 cents out of every $1,000 contained in this legislation.”

He then aimed his remarks at the economic purposes of the legislation and the economic significance of the arts sector: “People ask, What does funding for the arts have to do with jobs? It is very simple. People in the arts field are losing their jobs just like anybody else. . . . You have local arts agencies, you have local orchestras, local symphonies and local arts groups of all kinds who are shutting down, laying people off, and in a number of instances going bankrupt. This is a small, tiny effort to keep some of those people employed over the next two years. I make no apology for it. We have an obligation to salvage as many jobs as we can regardless of the fields in which people work.”

Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA), chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and sponsor of the arts funding in the stimulus package, joined Obey in defending the NEA funds. He cited the arts community as a tremendous cultural resource that “also serves to create jobs in local communities all across our nation.”

Dicks went on to say that the arts sector of the economy “has been inordinately impacted by the severe economic downturn we have been experiencing in this past year . . . and the result has been disastrous for many of our nation's arts agencies and programs. . . . The amount in this bill is intended to provide small grants to try to restore some of the jobs which have been lost in the arts communities over the past year. In addition to retaining jobs, these funds will support programs which provide entertainment and richness in the lives of our communities at a time when they are badly needed. In the context of this large economic stimulus legislation, I believe this is a prudent investment, and that it will contribute measurably to restoring the fiscal health of our nation.”

Speaking in opposition to the bill, Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) included the arts funding in a list of “special interest groups' pet projects” that “represent an increase in government spending, not job creation.” Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), also speaking against the legislation, cited the NEA funding with others as “some of the most egregious examples of programs within the massive spending bill.”

Democrats voting against the stimulus package were Reps. Allen Boyd (D-FL), Bobby Bright (D-AL), Jim Cooper (D-TN), Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), Parker Griffith (D-AL), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Frank Kratovil (D-MD), Walt Minnick (D-ID), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Heath Shuler (D-NC), and Gene Taylor (D-MS), including four freshman members of the House, three of whom replaced Republican officeholders.

Untitled Figure Progress, Yet Another Knife Paintig

Yesterday was a productive day for me! I got back to work on this figure, and decided I want to finish it within the next few days. The perimeter of the area I finished up starts at the top of her closer shoulder, goes down her back and around her tush to her lower wrist, across the wrist and along the arm, and then includes that entire shadow area from shoulder to shoulder. I still have the face, legs, and hands to work on, then on to the background.

I also did this quick knife painting for fun. Just playing around with some more muted colors this time.

Sloth Face Update

OK, this is with more work done on the face! Trying to get that cool lighting that would come from a TV.

Sloth Progress, Life Sketch, Knife Painting

Started working on the face today, and am going to be back at it tomorrow. It looks kind-of funny in this in-between stage, but I have high hopes for where it ends up.

This is my sketch from Sunday's life painting class. I want to work on it more from memory, but I don't think I'll have the time. Also can't seem to get a picture without glare. After I collect a couple more images from the others in the group, I will post them here for all to see. There's really great work happening there!

Finally, here's another knife painting. I'm still having fun painting these, even though I am not sure how successful I think they are.

Quick Oil Figures at ARTichokes

QUICK OIL FIGURES
Ages: 18 – 100

Thursdays, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

CLASS DATES: FEB 5, FEB 12, FEB 19 and FEB 26

This figure class will do a variety of oil sketches, one per day! A live, clothed model will pose each day giving students a chance to learn proportion and shading of the human form. Students will have lots of practice capturing gesture and expression and learning how to recreate the pose with oil paint and brushes on their own paper.

Improve your artistic eye with helpful tips from one of Kansas City's best figure artists, Lacey Lewis.

All art supplies are provided by ARTichokes & this cost is included in the enrollment fee.

Instructor: Lacey Lewis
Minimum students per session: 8
Maximum students per session: 12
Cost for 4 classes: $185.00, plus tax

ARTichokes
913.322.9481
10557 Mission Road,
Leawood, KS 66206
info@artichokeskc.com

Sign of the Times

Last week I received an email from someone at the Kansas Arts Commission.

Dear Lacey,

It has been a pleasure to review your Mid-Career Fellowship application in recent weeks. As you know this program was created to honor artists for their achievements, to nurture artists living in Kansas through nominal financial support, and to develop a sense of pride regarding the arts in Kansas. As I’m sure you are also aware, the state of Kansas is caught in the same economic turmoil rippling across the country. In turn, the Kansas Arts Commission has been directly affected with a mid-year budget cut leaving us unable to fund the fellowship for which you have applied.

Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the Kansas Arts Commission has unanimously agreed to move forward with the Fellowship and Emerging Artist honors. We believe it is critical to honor you because your work is an indelible part of Kansas’ creative culture stimulus package, which is needed perhaps now more than ever!

The guidelines for this program stipulate that artists may receive the honor twice in any given category over the course of your career. Due to the fact that funding is not available this year, I realize you may wish to withdraw your application. That is a difficult choice to make, particularly in light of the enormous effort you have put into your application thus far. Please consider your options and let me know as soon as possible whether or not you wish to continue in the current review process. I must hear from you no later than Tuesday, January 20th, in order to move forward with the program in a timely fashion.

Thank you again for sharing your work. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours very truly,

Name Removed

Everyday, I see more ways that we are affected by our struggling economy; Friends and family are laid-off or the businesses they work for are behind on payroll, our 401K's dwindle, etc. With all that is happening, I am glad that the KAC decided not to nix the fellowship program for the year. My response was as follows:

Dear Name Removed,

I *do not* wish to withdraw my application! I agree wholeheartedly with the KAC's decision to move forward with the honors even without funding. Money is not the priority, (obviously, or else we wouldn't be artists!) and especially during these tough times do we need to be encouraged.

Thank you so much for contacting me about this, and cheers to everyone at the KAC for continuing with this program in the face of budget-cuts.

Regards,
Lacey

I spoke with this person on the phone, as it seemed my email was lost in cyberspace, and so was able to ask how artists in general were responding. Happily, I learned that very few artists withdrew their applications! I'm glad to hear that even without funding, we are sending a message to all that these programs are important to us as artists. I hope that during these difficult economic times, programs like this do not disappear. There must be some way for us all to come together as a community to support each other in our endeavors.

"Sloth" Progress and Another Knife Painting

I don't have a very good progress picture of "Sloth" to share. I bought a new little point-and-shoot camera so that I wouldn't have to lug my big-old Nikon around with me every day, but that's meant in low-light that it's hard to get a clear accurate pic. The photo above is with the flash, the one below is without the flash but very grainy and colorless.

Hopefully you can see how I've worked on the shirt, and the arms up to the wrists. Unfortunately, neither of the images really shows what's happening in the forward arm. The arm isn't so blotchy, and the colors have this range of hues including a blue-ish reflected light from the shirt. Perhaps I'll be in with my Nikon soon to get a better pic of this.

And, I did another little 5x5 knife painting. Still not where I want to be, but still learning. I plan to continue to do a couple of these every now and then, and will even attempt a slightly larger one soon.

Knife Paintings

Last night I did these two 5x5 knife paintings. I want to get better with the knife, and it's also nice to do something fun and quick. This I can do in a couple hours; my figures generally take weeks. My first attempt, above, looks great from across the room, but up close is a bit choppier than I'd like. I'm thinking if it's still wet enough, I might try and work on the surface texture a bit more.

Here's my second attempt of the evening. I'm much more pleased with this one. Both of these paintings are much improved over my first two attempts at knife painting that I did in Richard Bowman's class. I'm really glad I took that class!

It'd be fun to try and paint a figure with the knife. Anyway, off to pick up some more 5x5 canvases...