Imago Dei-Umber Stage 2

I've continued to establish shadows. At this time, there's only one color on the canvas. I do think the toes are a "little" cute!

Self Portrait-2009 Umber 2

Finally! The paint sticks! On this stage I've continued to establish shadows.

I'm beginning to think my mouth might be crooked in real life. Painting this picture is similar to getting that familiar feeling of staring into a mirror for long time and you begin to think you're looking at someone else. Why is that?

Northern Light-Umber Stage 2

On this second stage I continued to darken shadows. Penumbra stage up next!

Singing Butler-Umber Stage 1

Umber stage. A picture for a friend who's sister's getting married.

David P. Goff- Umber Stage 1

...and we enter into the Third Dimension. I've glazed a thin layer of Burnt Umber into the shadows. Compositionally, I've placed David's head right in the middle of the Golden Ratio. Of all the paintings I've painted so far, I'm most satisfied with how this one has been composed.

I snapped this picture of Dave, (my father-in-law) on a recent hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The weather had been near perfect! Just as the sun set, a violent storm appeared on the horizon. The sky turned from a Caribbean blue to dramatic red and purple. I said, "quick Dave...smile for the camera!" (I spoke this in Mandarin Chinese, so of course he did not have a clue as to what I said.) He turned and leaned against his walking stick and said, "if you don't put that camera away, I'm going to throw it off the side of the mountain!" At that moment....I took the picture. The rest is history.

(Actually the truth is I took the picture of Dave in the dining room of my home and I Photo-shopped his image onto a picture I swiped from Google Images.)

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...?

Small Cup-Umber Stage 1

Quick...someone help!! I've got a paintbrush attached to my hand and can't get it off!

I've used the same technique on this as I did the Cherry Bowl. Only difference is I used acrylic paint rather than oil. Acrylic paint dries in about 10 minutes, oil takes days to dry. I can move much quicker, but I have less flexibility. There's still much work to be done on this, but at least it's taking shape.

Cherry Bowl-Burnt Umber Stage 1

I spent about three hours on this stage. The cherries will eventually be red.