Getting Back My Mojo

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As promised, I am posting some shots of the progress on my first "for-me" painting. I'm really excited an have gotten some good feedback on Facebook and in person.

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Here it is today. Still have a bit to go, haven't touched the foreground yet. The lower portion of the window and the chairs are still incomplete.  Moving along though and it feels great. I'm tossing around a few ideas on a name but am open to suggestions. Thoughts?

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Also, in the studio, my good friend and fellow artist Stacey Olson Sachs has me working on one of her commissions. We are learning a lot from one another. I helped achieve the effect for the background using a parchment type glazing treatment as well as the map and gradation of the blue sky that fades out. In exchange, I am learning to "see" more than what actually in a reference photo. I am earning my Artistic License!

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I will be helping install this first half coming up on Friday. There will be a second part to this leading in from the left that will tell the story of people in West Africa contracting the parasitic disease known as Shistosomiasis.  Biomedical Research Institute does research for this disease and harvests affected snails (part of its life cycle) which they supply to other researchers for drug development. Vaccine development is what they're aiming for in their future. It will be installed in their lobby. Stacey has a background in Medical Illustration and so this is right up her alley.

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Its been the perfect way to get back into working again, we have lots to talk about including work, philosophy, and family! And the best part is all I have to do is show up and paint! Stay tuned for photos of the installation. Follow on facebook too!

A Portrait Project - Finding my Footing

A few months ago Pam Long of Pam Long Photography approached me about doing a joint project.  Pam is a wonderfully talented photographer with a studio on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City. She does maternity portraits, newborn or children portraits, family portraits and high school seniors' portraits. Pam wanted to offer a new package option for her clients, having their portrait painted. That's where I come in!

We had a photo session back in February. Ill be honest, I didn't know what to expect since its not every day that I have my photo professionally done.  Pam was very welcoming and complimentary, immediately putting me at ease. We had a great time and did a few different set ups. About a week later, I came back to go through the lot and choose a handful that could potentially work for our project. I was surprised at how well they turned out given the subject matter ;) I tend to be goofy and and self conscious when having my picture taken.

With each new painting  there is an element of excitement, anxiety, and sometimes fear. Portraits are not easy, especially when they are for a paying client. Careful attention to detail is a must, and sometimes the client will be choosy in how they are portrayed.  Remember the whole Kate Middleton portrait kerfuffle? I thought the work was stunning and captured her essence, but most people wanted an idealized image that they had conceived in their minds. You can't please everyone, but you must please the client! In this case the client is me. And its super hard!!

I've always painted in acrylic and this time I've been using my usual standard, Proceed Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. I did use a different kind of canvas since I was out of the kind I normally use. Somehow I think the combination isn't working very well. I find it difficult to build layers without cutting through the subsequent layers. I also am finding that for this particular project that the paints are drying to opaquely and flat.

What I've been noticing now that I'm working on this is how in other artists' portrait work the colors of the skin are so varied and deep.  Cerulean blues, cadmium reds, all layered to achieve such a beautiful luminosity. I tend to mix a color, add white and either burnt umber or raw umber to it to get the value correct, and put it down. The results are very opaque. I am struggling to find how to layer the colors to achieve that beautiful depth. I did some thinking and believe that I am going to try out oils. I've never been properly schooled in their use, but I have used them in the past. I'm hoping that by using oils I'll be able to achieve the subtle nuances with the shadows and richness of the skin.

Ill post some more photos when I think its nearing completion. Any advice or constructive critique is welcomed.

Stay tuned!

An Insider's Look at the "Make Room" exhibit at the ACC show in Baltimore

before

Before, a 10x10 box.

This past February, Paula Henry asked me to create a piece for her "Make Room" exhibit at the ACC show in Baltimore. Its essentially a "white box challenge" where designers are offered a few pieces by artists exhibiting in the show.

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The finished room.

Paula chose the cocktail table and two chairs to inspire her design. In addition, they were given a theme; this year's being "Entertainment." To add to this theme, I decided to do a dynamic painting of glasses and bottles in a limited color palette to convey the feeling of celebration and excitement.

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The piece measures 36"x48". It is currently available. (can be hung vertically also.)

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We had a great time, even the mayor stopped by!

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Gael Summerhill of Summerhill Cabinets, Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors, and myself.

Spring? Where are you??

If you're like me, you are going batty trying to endure the last vestiges of this epic winter. Mother nature is such a tease! Apparently she's giving us one more wallop tonight. Oy vey! To hopefully encourage the coming of spring, I've shared a bit of warmth and light with few past projects that I did that are nature inspired. There are many more in my portfolio.

Enjoy!

Sun through the Trees

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Garden Doorway (mural on canvas)

Safari Bedroom

Safari Bedroom

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

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Main Street Ellicott City (prints available)

Airplane Bathroom

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Girl's Bedroom

MD State Police Dept of Corrections Training Facility Mural

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Modern Chinoiserie Mural

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Gilding Class with Annie Lemarie!

In conjunction with our local chapter of the International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL), the Greater Maryland Decorative Artisans (GMDA) will be hosting a gilding class with Annie Lemarie of Main Street Arts!Link to GMDA's blog: http://greatermarylanddecorativeartisans.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/two-gilding-classes-by-annie-lemaire/

Description:

Basic Gilding                Thursday, March 6th,  9am to 1pm (4 hours)

$155 for GMDA members, $165 for non-members

Learn the basics of gilding!  Using 23K gold leaf, we will learn to handle, cut, pick up and apply genuine leaf.  We will also explore types of applications using 23K, composition leaf, copper leaf and aluminum leaf.  Learn how to seal, tint and tone leaf.  Class samples will include gold on carved molding, leafing through a stencil, and production applications such as rolling gold and working with roll leaf (two different things!). We will work on a “sales” board, laying different kinds of leaf for using to upsell your gilding projects.

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Architectural Gilding

Glass Gilding           Friday, March 7, 9am-4pm (7 hours)

$250 for GMDA members, $260 non-members

Verre Eglomise is a technique of gilding and painting the reverse side of glass.  In this class, you will learn the basics of applying real 23K gold leaf to glass and creating designs with the leaf. We will discuss traditional techniques for backing and creating backgrounds and layered images.  In this class, however, we will be using more modern techniques to create stunning backgrounds for your patterns.  Students will create their own work of art, and there will be opportunity to play with additional pieces as you wish.  Previous gilding experience is helpful, but not necessary.  Please bring a favorite stencil or pattern, with a fairly simple design (please, nothing too intricate), suitable for use on an 8 x 10 piece and a mop brush (no larger than a #10). There will be other designs available.  If you already have gilding tools, please bring them, otherwise you may use studio tools.

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Verre Eglomise

Annie Lemarie has been in the decorative finishing industry since 1980. She works, primarily to the trade, with a wide variety of media and techniques.  The business has evolved to include conservation and restoration of architectural painted finishes, frames and works of art.  She also consults with contractors and homeowners regarding historic paint and decoration. Clients include trade customers, private homeowners, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian, the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland. She has been an instructor for the Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program and IDAL. She is a past president of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County (MD), former member of the International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL) board, and is currently a Trustee with the Society of Gilders. Her studio is in her historic home in Sharpsburg, Maryland.

The classes will be held at Dee Cunningham’s Studio, 8602A Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD

Please Pay before February 28th!

Mail a check (made out to GMDA) to Cathy Rinn (10607 Montrose Ave, #3, Bethesda MD. 20814) or contact Cathy ( cathrinn@msn.com ) and she will send you an email with a  Pay Pal invoice to pay with your credit card ( you do not need a pay pal account to do this).