Intro

This didn’t originally start out as a blog about art but along the way art entered in thanks to a friend who later offered the following encouragement.

“You have such a natural talent John. (And you have the ability to actually produce finished pieces quickly – something I’ve never been able to do). I don’t know anything about this particular site, but if you have the chance to market your work, I say go for it…”

I don’t know that I’m “market ready” but I’m trying to get there. Paintings a lot different than sketching…still a long way to go. If you stop by or follow along at any time, leave a comment – and remember:

“Too much sanity may be madness and the maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.”

Miguel de Cervantes

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Update 08-24-11, Girl on a Sofa

Got a reminder notice today about the show and found out that its due for drop off This Saturday not next weekend…ANYWAYS!

Two days ago – worked on the hoodie

Yesterday – started trying to make a “leather” sofa

Today – finished wall, pillow and most of sofa

Tomorrow – skin, hair, finish sofa , and touch up

UPDATE 08- 22 -11, “Working title: Girl on a Sofa”

As usual, I slacked Sunday and Monday so today I tried to get back in the groove

 

Previous posted picture (above) and current picture (below)

As you can see, tonight’s efforts have been focused on the hoodie

UPDATE 08-19-11, “Working title: Girl on a Sofa”

I’ve decided to post the painting updates in a separate post to make it easier to find and post about. 

On each new post I’ll place the previous update picture along with the current update picture.

For anyone who’s dropping by the post for the first time the painting in progress is in oils and 16 x 20 inches

Previous update above and the current update is below

(I’ll try to take the picture in better light next time)

Work in progress: Girl on Sofa, 08-18-11

There’s a juried show coming up in a month. Trying to get this painting ready for it

oil painting 16 x 20 inches

(click on pictures to enlarge)

Laid in with white chalk on canvas tinted with burnt umber

went over outline of sketch with brown umbar

The beginning of the under painting

Beginning to block in colors with thin wash of blue

all colors blocked in with a thin wash

Maybe 60% done with jeans

(I’ll try to get better lighting for next picture)

building up the sofa

began work on the hoodie

Started work on the sofa

mostly done with wall, coach and pillow

Wind, and Sea, and Dreams

The mingling of the currents of wind, and sea, and dreams

As if breathe, and lips in a kiss

And so much the better these

To be lost within your heart

Then lost in the longing for

 

What lies beyond the gentle roll of waves

Which lap upon the shore

The conjurors of memories

That wakens souls to breathe

And breathing,

Long for better things

And part the mists of dreams

That hearts may more clearly see

The desires of our lives

And swept away by lulling sound

Remember to believe

What was once

Or yet to be

Or is found in present company

A timeless thought of forever

And what forever was meant to be

As we stand so small

 Beneath the vast o’r arching vault of blue

And stare out beyond the restless tides

As far as eye can see

This vast and open space which speaks

In whispers to our dreams

Come forth

And be born

Beautiful as Venus upon the foam

And to our souls,

Believe

For all that is

Began once

As a simple dream