Painting a Day

Rialto at Night

I've had absolutely no time to paint since the baby was born. He's finally beginning to sleep through the night so hopefully that'll change. I did manage to find the time to do this though. Dr. Carl Patton is retiring as the Dean of Georgia State University. The Rialto Center for the Performing Arts asked me to do this as a going away gift for him.

Flint Gallery Show

The Newnan Spring Artwalk was Friday night and the Flint Gallery had an open house. They've finally toned wayyyy back on the interior design side of the business and emphasized the gallery side. All of the artwork is downstairs and well hung on neutrally colored walls. It ended up being a pretty good show. My favorite thing kept happening. While in mid conversation with someone, the managers would come over to tell me that someone was admiring my work and wanted to meet me. I fucking love that.

Current Mood: Ahhhh...
Current Music: Saturday Night Live

Still Experimenting!
Here's another one. I felt that this moment would best be conveyed with a lighter tone. I'm calling her;

"House of Glass Slippers" - 30x48 inches

The experiment continues...
I wondering if maybe my visual intent will have more impact if I work larger. I'm calling her;
"Lonesome Cowgirl" - 48x36 inches Mixed Media

Current Mood: Hmmm...
Current Music: Action News

Experimenting
I've had an idea regarding a new approach bubbling up in the back of my mind for a while now. This is my first experiment.

"Drawn to Her" - 30x24 inches Mixed Media

Current Mood: Hmmm...
Current Music: The L-Word

Better Scan
I just got this one back from Gallery Street. Here's their excellent scan. I'm still not sure I want to call it "Whirlwind Dance". Anyone have a suggestion?
"Begging for More" - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: Curious
Current Music: Letterman

Finished
I touched up a few areas and threw in some very subtle motion language. I also tossed in a bit of toothbrush spatter to soften her up a bit. This photo doesn't really do her justice. When I get her back from Gallery Street I'll post a much clearer image. I may change the title, but for now it's;
"Whirlwind Dance" - Part 4 - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: Headachy
Current Music: Life

And a little bit mo'
Aaaaand he's got a partner! I'm probably going to pick at them a bit more. Then I'll decide how much motion language to add.
"Whirlwind Dance" - Part 3 - 30x20 inches

Current Mood: Grumpy
Current Music: Dancing with the Stars

A Little Bit Mo'
Please excuse this piss poor photograph. Today I started blocking in the dancers. Well, the guy anyway. The busy background is a little confusing so it's a bit slow going.
"Whirlwind Dance" - Part 2 - 30x20 inches

Current Mood: Painty
Current Music: South Park

New work in progress
I wanted totry another mixed media piece. Here's the beginning background done in Photoshop. I had Gallery Street print it on heavy canvas and stretch it on wide stretcher bars. Next up; paint!

"Whirlwind Dance" - Part 1 - 30x20 inches

Current Mood: Intrigued
Current Music: Smallville

Color Corrected
I went back in and fixed that weird yellow-ness in the background and took it out to Gallery Street for scanning. Here's how it looks now. I took it down to The Flint Gallery this afternoon.
"Dream a Little Dream" - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: Okey-Dokey
Current Music: The Daily Show

Done!
I pulled an all-nighter to get it done in time and spent this morning putting on finishing touches. Aside from the nudity, this feels like a bit of a departure for me. We'll see how they like it. I'm calling it "Red Wine with Fish?"

Current Mood: Tired
Current Music: Headline News

Wine and Mermaids
The Aquarium is hosting a fundraiser called "AquaVino" this Friday, and the wife volunteered me to donate a painting to the silent auction. I'm out of town until tomorrow night but managed to lay out this piece and put a wash down before leaving. I think if I hammer on it all day Wednesday and Thursday, I can have it finished in time.

Current Mood: Hmmm...
Current Music: Scrubs

Dream a Little Dream - Final
I decided that the lettering was just too flat, so I touched it up with some brushwork. I also felt that the overall feel needed to be softer so I tried to create a sense of motion with some loose brushwork around the dancers. Then I added some brush spatter to take the edge off even further. I'm reasonably happy with it and may give it to one of the galleries.

"Dream a Little Dream" - Final - 30x24 inches

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Current Mood: Dance-y
Current Music: News

Update!
"Dream a Little Dream" is finished but I had a very narrow window of time to get it to my photographer. He says I can have it back tomorrow and I'll post it then.

Anthony

Current Mood: In-Between
Current Music: Dancing With the Stars

Dream a Little Dream - Part 4
I decided that the faces were just too busy so I toned them down quite a bit. I'm probably going to work on the clothes a bit more, but not too much. The real question is, do I want to play around with the background at all or should I just leave it alone?

"Dream a Little Dream" - Part 4 - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: Just Wonderin'
Current Music: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Sick Day
Had a bout of serious insomnia coupled with an allergy attack last night. Spent the day in kind of a daze. I'm going to try to pick at the current canvas a bit tonight but don't really hope for much. I should be back on track tomorrow.

Current Mood: Oogy
Current Music: Kill Bill Vol. 1

Dream a Little Dream - Part 3
I spent last night and a good part of today working and reworking the dancer's faces. The problem has been that I wanted them to be smiling but they weren't in the photo I'm working from. I decided to just fake it and have been struggling to get it right. I just realized that I've gotten too close to the canvas and am "over-thinking" it so I may take the night off and come at it with fresh eyes tomorrow.

"Dream a Little Dream" - Part 3 - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: a bit frustrated
Current Music: Action News

Dream a Little Dream - Part 2
Not very exciting as updates go. I went ahead and blocked in some major color areas. These are just flat base tones. The background lettering makes things a little confusing so this seemed a necessary first step.

"Dream a Little Dream" - Part 2 - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: Artsy Fartsy
Current Music: ABC World News

"Dream a little Dream" - Part 1
I think it's important that you all get to see me fall on my ass from time to time. So in that spirit I'm trying a little experiment that's been knocking at the back of my brain lately. I wanted to try a mixed media piece but wanted there to be an original "painting" for the galleries. Here's what I did; I worked up a high res Photoshop file playing around with sheet music and the lyrics to "Dream a Little Dream of Me". Then I took the file to Gallery Street printers and had them print it 30x24 inches, Giclee style on rough, gallery wrapped canvas. It's probably hard to see here but I've sketched a pair of ballroom dancers on top of the image. Next we'll see how an organic painting looks on top of a digital image.
"Dream a Little Dream" - Part 1 - 30x24 inches

Current Mood: Experimantative
Current Music: The Mommas and The Poppas

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