Sunday, October 31, 2010

"Cold Snap"


Okay, This is done, I'm stopping. It's still bright and fresh and kind of whimsical(which I like).
This latest painting on wood jag has produced some great pieces, this one is 18" x 24" and has a bit of a graphic quality about it. I'll have a frame on this soon- a moulding that I picked out over at Tuxedo Frame Gallery in Buckhead. They do really great framing design there. They are located where the Pearl art supply used to be on Roswell Rd. Then I will post a photo of the finished piece here, framed and ready to hang.

"Angel Fury"


Here is a detail from a large oil on canvas, 36" x 48".
This is a work in progress as well. I hope to have it finished soon and ready to present. I think I need some of those wood panels at this size 36" x 48" and larger.








New Work,"Gardenia"


This is another painting featuring a romanticized female figure with equine, I have been working on this off and on for quite a while, but I've made some real progress of late (I think that I just got a little mad at it; not her, just the painting, and fearlessly attacked the canvass with a large brush this time) by painting over some areas with warm, reddish greens and it softened it up a bit. I'm always learning by trial and error, and I have found that layers of paint (with the layer beneath showing through) creates depth. I still have a ways to go on this one, I think I am going to apply some contrasting color to her dress.
I don't know, I might have gotten in over my head with this one.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

New paintings on birch panel


Hey, This is a painting I just finished, kind of a series. I'm painting consistantly at one size: 24" x 24" square on birch wood panels. I really like the surface because it's hard like paper (no give like canvas) and it's smooth unless you want to embellish with your own texture. I just put a few coats of gesso on and sand in between layers, but I have heard of artists mixing in pummice or applying paste. That smooth, hard surface also allows for drawing media like charcoal or pastel in conjunction with the paint. Anyway, I'm excited with the results. Keeping with the equine theme, I'm exploring with this square format for a while. I have also picked out some nice frame mouldings for these. Of course, these are for sale, contact me if your interested: studioandrew@yahoo.com

I like this one, "Joan the Triumphant". I have alway's been facinated with Joan of Arc, because she was a warrior and Marytered Saint, I guess I share a somewhat romantic notion of her character that has been shaped by books and art and film. When I painted the figure on the horse, it eventually took form and reminded me of Joan of Arc, so I titled it such.
Titles are an interesting subject on their own. Sometimes they are obvious during the working process, a few words that pop into your head while painting, not a literal interpretation, but hopefully, a more personally connected phrase. But some have no title and it's best not to lead the viewer in any direction; The viewer can interperet it on their own terms and connect words of their own.