Mystery Portrait-Umber Stage 1

The picture has moved from a two, to a three-dimensional appearance. This happens simply by painting the shapes of the shadows. That is not a scar below his left eye. My drawing was a little off in some places, so I had to fix it. The "fleshy" colored areas are where I glazed on the Burnt Umber paint too thickly and I had to wipe out with turpentine. Each stage is a only a map to get to the next stage. I correct problems as I go; Refining with each step. The early stages are essential for getting values, (light and darks) right. A brilliant person once said, "I don't paint things, I paint the effect light has on things. " I've found this to be true.

My opinion is that the grisaille, or the dead layer is the most important point in the process. This umber stage is a only a step to help that stage look more realistic.

I hope to paint one more stage in Burnt Umber, (a dark brown oil paint) in order to refine a few details and I'll be ready to paint the Dead Layer.

No guesses yet as to who this may be...?

Inquiring Cows-Color Stage 1

I've glazed the first layer of oil color over the acrylic underpainting.  I'm amazed at how so little color can transform a picture so quickly!  Someone once said, values do all the work and color gets all the credit.

"Mystery Portrait"-Imprimatura Stage

I'm making this one a "mystery" portrait. Betcha' can't guess who it is???

I primed canvas with gesso, (that's white acrylic paint), and sanded with 150 grit sandpaper between coats.  When I finished the weave of the canvas was almost completely obsolete  I had a texture that looked and felt very much like an eggshell.  

I drew the figure with a standard ball point/ink-jell pen, (love um'!).  I then primed the canvas with my first layer of oil, heavily diluted with turpentine. The smell is heavy in the room as I type this.  The tone or value of the canvas supposed to be equivalent to a brown paper bag.  I think I'm close on this one.

Next stage...Burnt Umber, (this is my favorite part because the figure takes on a three-dimensional appearance.  Good stuff!

John Calvin-On Unconditional Election

"We say, then, that Scripture clearly proves this much, that God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to destruction. We maintain that this counsel, as regards the elect, is founded on his free mercy, without any respect to human worth, while those whom he dooms to destruction are excluded from access to life by a just and blameless, but at the same time incomprehensible judgment. In regard to the elect, we regard calling as the evidence of election, and justification as another symbol of its manifestation, until it is fully accomplished by the attainment of glory. But as the Lord seals his elect by calling and justification, so by excluding the reprobate either from the knowledge of his name or the sanctification of his Spirit, he by these marks in a manner discloses the judgment which awaits them." -John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

Stryper-"To Hades With Diabolos"

I plan to teach a new adult Sunday school class at church the first week of April. Our topic: Biblical Demonology. I have a few books and resources I want to use as guides; Stryper's album will not be one of them... Sorry.

Inquiring Cows-Dead Layer Stage 1

Bathed in moonlight, inquiring cows ask; "Got Milk?"  

Corny jokes aside, I'm milking this Dead Layer to death.   I painted, and then painted some more and more and more, and I just could not get that sky covered.  The green imprimatura still shows through.  Also, if you look closely, you'll see red marks around the edges.  Those are supposed to have been covered by now.  I'm too timid with the brush.  I was tempted to crack open a can of Kilz!

I'm trying something new with this painting;  The underpainting, (Burnt Umber and Dead Layer) are being painted with acrylics and I'm going to glaze the color onto in oils.  I'm not sure what'll happen.

Inquiring Cows-Umber Stage 2

I have glazed titanium white on the highlights.  These bovines are tricky!  Lots of weird shadows, diamond shaped eyes...who would have thunk it?

Barack Obama on Special Olympics

It is what is it is, and it ain't what it ain't.

"Inquiring Cows (Wanna' Know)"- Umber Stage 1

These curious cows have had their shadows glazed.  Next step...glazing white in the highlights.  This picture is 8"x10" and is being painted with acrylic paint on canvas.  Giddy up!

Aunt Bertha

My family favorite of Aunt Bertha's was her homecooking! She made the best pancakes! Mmmm...good!

(These classic album covers come from Purgatorio)

My Soul- Magnifies the Lord

As does mine...!

Bleeding Turnips-AIG Style

For you meat lovers out there..., that big thing on the right is a turnip. And although it looks somewhat red, you ain't gettin' any blood out of it...no matter how hard you squeeze it!

Please weigh in on the poll on the left column. Your vote will be anonymous.

Golden Rose-Finished!

"Golden Rose"

8"x10" Oil on Canvas

And here is the completed "Golden Rose."  Because the paint is still wet on this one, I had a hard time getting a good picture without getting a terrific glare.  

In this stage I performed something like an optical illusion I learned from the famous Dutch painter Vermeer.  I had some difficulty making the blue wall, (or whatever it is) behind the rose look realistic in the earlier stages.  I was afraid some may think it is supposed to be a sky.  So taking a cue from Vermeer, I "wrapped" the negative space by making some parts darker and some parts lighter thus creating a 3-D effect.  I even darkened the top left corner on the grey part of the wall.  This gives the appearance as if the rose is glowing.  

Also, although it looks a bit cheesy, I tried to paint some water drops on a couple of the leaves, (see if you can find them!).  This was my first attempt...I need to work on it!

Cherry Bowl-Finished!

Cherry Bowl 2009

8"x10" Oil on Canvas

Alan Parsons-I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You

Cutting edge...70's style!

Golden Rose-Color Stage 4

Cherry Bowl-Color Stage 3

You may not be able to tell a whole lot of difference between this stage and the last, (I don't guess there's much to show for 3 1/2 hours of work!!!), but I've refined details and brought the color out a bit more vividly.  I'm much happier with the way the reflection looks on the front of the bowl.  The bottom cherry on the left is a little less "purple" than the last stage, but it still needs more work.   A little more refining and I'll be finished.

Cherry Bowl-Color Stage 2

I glazed more colors onto the Cherry Bowl.  I'm having the most difficulty making the reflection on the face of the bowl look realistic.  The table is supposed to be wooden.  I'm leaving subtle lines to suggest grain.

Cherry Bowl-Color Stage 1

While waiting on the golden rose to dry I've glazed a thin layer of color onto the cherry bowl.  I'm very pleased with the way this is turning out!  I rubbed a thin layer of Liquin onto the surfacewith my finger and applied an extremely thin layer of colors onto the surface.  Because the Liquin enables the paint to dry so quickly, I'll should be able to apply another layer of color onto this tomorrow.  Meanwhile the golden rose is still drying...

What Does a Trillion Dollars Look Like?

Click here for a nifty little example to help you see what a trillion dollars looks like.

What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham

I have a five year old daughter and I'm always looking for good books to read on parenting. This book looks excellent! The title alone is an attention grabber! What He Must Be-If He Wants to Marry My Daugther by Voddie Baucham. This is one of those rare books where theology gets practical. Parents if you have sons who will marry a woman one day, this book is for you; If you have a daughter who will marry a man one day, you may want to read this book! Famous blogger Frank Turk says:

“this is probably in the top three books of the last 50 years on marriage and the call to being a husband. ”

he goes on to say...

"Read this book, and then read it again, and then tear out the chapters and make little booklets of them so you can share them in small groups, and then start teaching this stuff to your sons so they can be this kind of men. And then teach it to your daughters so they kind find these kind of men.”

Scripture Truth Book Co. has it on sale right now for an excellent price of $11.25.

Golden Rose-Color Stage 3

Another layer of color.  At this point, I'm just piling on the paint.  You may as well call me Robert Ross, Jr.!  This one's going in the toilet.... literally, I think I'm going to put it in the bathroom when I'm done!

Golden Rose-Color Stage 2

I've glazed another layer of color onto the rose.  That blue background is not the sky but a "blue" painted wall.  I'm putting the paint on too thickly and thereby basically abandoning the Classical Method of building colors through translucent glazing.  It's frustrating.  Another color layer and then details and I'm done.