Mardi Gras Mary

At last she is finished! I tried to re-create the still life in my studio, but just couldn't get it right. I also found my photographs to be less than helpful. Most were too dark or light and almost all from the wrong angle. Since I'd laid in some of the rhythms of the lower beads during the paint-in, I ran with what was there and consulted the actual set-up for color references. I'd say that worked out just fine, wouldn't you? This pastel is 18" x 12" on Wallis paper - my last sheet. I do hope to order more soon as it is my favorite so far. I will try to post her to the website soon. I did decide to go with Mary rather than Madonna. I guess "Mary" sounds like she'd be more fun at Mardi Gras and I did not want anyone to even think of the musician. That's about it. Enjoy.

The oil is coming along. I did complete the grape leaves, though I may mess with them more later. I laid some rich darks into the grapes. I will glaze a nice Alizarin over that layer once it is dry. Tomorrow will be an all day paint day. First, I have to survive figure drawing tonight and then (hopefully) get a good night's rest.

On The Grape Vine

Went to a Pastel Society "paint-in" last Saturday and got my Mardi Gras Mary mostly completed! It was an idea for a composition that came up while I was setting up for Rome. Very happy with Mary thus far, but will have to refer to photographs for the accurate placement and my re-created arrangement for the color. Hate to do that, but I just ran out of time. It is very loose compared to my last pastel and a relief to be coming along as well as it is. There will be no pictures until it's done.

Plugging away at the grape leaves of Rome today. Have kind of decided on a loopy diagonal path of "in focus" subjects within the composition. Feel like I've lost some momentum, but I have all day today, Thursday and Friday to get that back.

Feel that nip of competition with my painter colleagues again. It nags at me and I don't like it. Makes me feel petty. I still want to be as successful as them, but not in the way they are. That doesn't make sense to people that don't know me. Won't dive off that bridge here - sorry!

Lunch is over, so I'll walk the dog and get back to work.

Next!

Laurel leaves are in, but not the berries. Perhaps today? Worked my butt off yesterday and am pleased. Ran out of time for the grape leaves, but they are different greens anyway. Must figure out how to reposition canvas to reach that area without screwing up the lighting. Good thing it's a nice dismal day! Yes, it actually helps my lighting. Who'd have thunk a tiny window could create so many problems on a sunny day down there?

Progress with this canvas is definitely slower than the other two paintings. Faster than before, but I can't slow down to a snail again. It's been 5 days so far and there is still a lot of work ahead of me. Looking at the thing I see that the wine holder will have to be crystal clear detail too. Fortunately that won't take too long. Will have to figure out how to deal with the patterns on the fabric without getting knit-picky too.

Suppose I'd better get into the studio now if I really want to finish sooner rather than later.

Resting On My Laurels

OK, so I painted for a measly one hour yesterday. What a shame because I could have gotten so much done rather than sit in meetings. I took a step back to more detailed work in painting the artificial Laurel bush leaves and berries, but will try to keep areas less detailed to balance things. I just LOVE doing it! It really defines the space too.

Today's goal will be to "finish" the leaves and possibly the grape leaves. First, I need to remix all my green colors again. Wish I'd mixed more in the first place, but I was throwing out a lot of color when it got too tacky and stopped mixing so much. You'd think I'd have better judgment on quantities after all these years.

Here's a shot of the work in progress and a detail of the leaves so far:





Now I gotsta get to work!

It Begins Here...

My friend Erica was recently listening on the phone to me go on and on about what I'm currently working on in the studio. When I finally let her get a word in she said, "Laura, you should write a blog about this stuff." As long as I remember that the purpose of this blog is to focus on my artistic work and not the other parts of my life, I believe all will be right in the world. I will try to put into writing the ideas and concepts I deal with when in my studio. (Try being the key word.)

Currently, I am working on a series based on the varieties of apples sold at an apple farm just up the road. The Way Fruit Farm. So far, I've painted Golden Delicious and Apollo's Empire. The working title of the third oil painting is Rome. Many thanks to the gentleman at Way who went to the cold storage to provide me with an actual Rome apple!

I am actually supposed to be preparing dinner, so I'll have to continue to expound in words and pictures just what I'm up to in my studio another time. Stay tuned!