It's Not A Face

I brought my failed attempts at painting faces 
to the GJWP meeting this week
hoping for some advice. 
It worked! 
Paula V. looked at me and said,
"Stop thinking of it as a face.
Paint it like any object"!   
Hello!?

Thank you Paula! 

This time, I approached it the same way I do all my subjects.

I did my map, 
blocked every thing in shadow in with dark shapes.

From there, I added the lights, 
adjusted a few things, and stopped. 

My figurative work is less about portraying a likeness, 
than it is about describing a moment in time.
So I want to get really good at 
 simply suggesting facial features accurately.
This will take LOTS of practice!
Any one want to come over and model?

One More Small Works Show!

Barefoot Lunch 

8 x 8 

This painting and four others 

will be showing at the 

Copley Society in Boston 

158 Newbury Street 

until December 23rd. 

The opening reception is this Thursday evening 

5:30 - 7:30 pm

To give a gift of original art 

is many times more meaningful (and lasting) than a gift card,

 don't you think?  

Win Win Situation

Every year the 

North River Arts Society 

holds a Holiday Art Sale.

Artist members can submit up to 25 pieces 

and are encouraged to keep the prices low. 

I've submitted some of my old favorites,

that have just been in the studio too long. 

Older work that I'm fond of but need to let go. 

They are all in one-of-a kind distressed wood frames

and are priced to sell!

Like these: 

"Additions"

9 x 12 

$250 

"Happy Hour" 

8 x 8 

$175

The buyer gets a great bargain, 

and I get the paintings into new homes!  

(and NRAS makes some money!) 

It's all GOOD.  

Opening reception this Friday 7 - 10 pm. 

Don't miss this OR the opening at SSAC the same night! 

Looks like a busy night for Small Works bargains!   

Simple Gifts

These three small works  

(and many more) 

will be available at the 

South Shore Art Center

"Simple Gifts Show"

opening this Friday 

Nov 9  

6 - 8 pm

Through December 23rd!  

You Talkin' To Me? 

6 x 6 

Cousins

6 x 6

Double Trouble 

6 x 6 

This is a great opportunity to purchase fine art at great prices! 

Hope to see you there! 

Painting Faces

Barefoot 

8 x 16 

For years I have avoided "doing faces" in my figurative work.
For all the obvious reasons.
I've decided to finally make that a personal challenge.  

Thought I'd post some of my disastrous attempts.
I tried to just focus on the planes of the face
Not the details.

No. This is NOT Angelina Jolie!

A little better, but the mouth is still awkward! 

Tried a different angel for this one, thinking that was the problem. 

Now she looks like she just had oral surgery!  

Too much botox!!! ? 

Boy. This is difficult.  

The slightest little move of the brush changes everything!
I clearly need to do A LOT more work on this
and I'm not giving up.

Stay tuned.  

Note: I did these for the GJWP "HAT" Challenge this month. 

Needless to say, none of them could be be posted!  

Red Hat

The GJWP challenge this month was

"HAT"

Click here to see this month's entries!

"Red Hat" 

8 x 8 oil 

I think hats make wonderful subjects

 because they are great indicators of sunlight.

This painting will be one of five 

that will be part of a 

Holiday Small Works Show 

at the 

Copley Society of Boston 

158 Newbury Street Boston, MA 

November 15 - December 24 

Opening reception Nov 15 

5:30 - 7:30 

Stop by! 

You Gotta Love NYC

Our plans to get to the Edward Hopper House 

opening reception in Nyack, New York  

were dashed with the pending arrival of Sandy Sunday afternoon.  

We did, however, get to NYC on Saturday 

and, as always, I was not disappointed by all the "visuals."  

I took this out of the cab window in SoHo.  

Those are real underwear attached to that canvas.

Kind of creepy. No?

I wonder how much that will go for. 

This poor waiter was clearly embarrassed 

about taking a "Banana Split" for a walk. 

(But then again, look what he's wearing!)  

It was Halloween weekend after all. 

I thought this was a clever way to advertise.

Made me want to go in and get a blow out!

Just a couple of Cow Boys and Girls

hailing a cab. 

We are now back in Boston awaiting the arrival of Sandy.

Many prayers and thoughts go out to all 

who will be affected.

Be safe!