Poolside II

I actually finished this a few months ago, but it appears I forgot about posting it.
The sun has finally poked out of the clouds here, but after a week or so of really cold, rainy weather this was looking pretty nice...

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

It can be hard to paint over large portions of canvas that I have previously painted, especially if that section works well by itself, but not within the whole. Fortunately, the latter part is not the case in this painting. Tomorrow, I will need to repaint the deck a slightly darker color. Although, I like the faint yellow that is there right now, I need the chairs to stand out more- specifically the highlights on the chair need to be brighter than the deck. So nerve-wracking or not, expect a new deck tomorrow.

Poolside II (in progress)

Besides painting, something I need to work on is taking better pictures of my work. It was a really overcast and dreary day here so there wasn't much natural light in my studio. Photography is something I have struggled with anyway. Any suggestions on photographing artwork?

Poolside II (in progress)

Do I ever get sick of working on the same projects for days or weeks? Yes, which means that project usually find its way to my drying rack and stays there (great examples: portraits of Amy and Mark). In this way, I can be almost a slave to my emotional connection to a painting. This isn't really a good thing for me as an artist. Isn't making art about expressing yourself and how you are feeling? We should love each painting, right? Well, yes...and no. My art is an expression of me, of beautiful things or places that lifted my spirit, and overall, I love creating each piece. But, painting is a struggle. Sometimes I really don't love the piece I am working on. It's not working, the colors aren't right, the angles just won't line up, this is not what was in my head... But that is the way anything satisfying is - we have to figure out the problems, overcome the frustrations, put in the time...before we can feel the accomplishment and really love our work. There is a stigma that painting is fun. Well, it is... but, it is also work. And it sure feels good to step back and have that very troublesome painting (and colors, angles...) work.
And no, this painting is not yet finished nor is yet the subject of any real frustrations - just problems to fix.

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

I began a new painting today, a very large painting. I used the smaller "Poolside" as a study for this 40 x 30 inch canvas.
I was surprised at how different painting the same image large feels. The brush strokes turn out totally different because of the relative size compared to the canvas. The amount of paint needed goes up dramatically. One surprise was how much harder it is to make a straight line. I think I am making a straight line across the canvas. Then step back, and I am two inches lower on one side. I'm still not sure the horizon is straight...
The painting also goes a lot slower when there is 8 times as much surface area. Just drawing the image on and doing so basic color blocking took over 4 hours. (Most of that was the drawing, as may be evidenced by the copious amount of smudges). But I am looking forward to my first really big landscape.