NEW LINES ON OLD PAINTING CAN BE FUN

I have been pestered by a canvas I started over a year ago. The painting is from notes taken from James Canfield 's choreography last summer.

Actually it is several blogs back from this one. The gesture of the female figure on the left did not work in this composition .

On a studio errand yesterday the image of the figure that I needed came to me. When back in the studio she went down onto the canvas in a matter of seconds.

What fun to have resolved that part of this process called painting. Maybe I should repeat that same errand tomorrow before adding color and features to hopefully move her and the viewer.

CELEBRATION TIME COME ON!

What better way to announce I am back from a year sabbatical than flowers in season.

This year long sabbatical has provided the time needed to convalesce from surgery and creative fatigue.

The Northwest Dance Project NWDP, has provided me with notes to launch new works. They are one of the main dance attractions in Portland during the summer and I am grateful for the opportunity to prop on their floor and draw. It's great to be back.

BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND

The more I read as I flip through resource material the more my heart goes out to this often misunderstood animal. This began to show at the easel yesterday. Painting definately does not happen from the elbow down when dealing with the wolf. this animal represents a life form and that has stood the test of time at the whim of humans who have worshiped them and needlessly slaughtered them and that is still going on today.
"If we could live like wolves,

we would never hate our brothers

and sisters just for being of different colors.

We would live together in harmony,

knowing that the well-being of the others

would be the basis of our own well-being.

We wold care for each other

no matter whether young or old or healthy or sick.

We would look after nature

because we would understand

that we need Her to survive.

and we would kill for one reason only-for food.

What a perfect place earth could be,

if only we could be like wolves."

-Anonymous

"Wolves A PHOTOGRAPHIC CELEBRATION"

edited by amber rose

THE OTHER STUDIO PROJECT

The other studio project has been to develop an animal series that I can sell on line. This category of painting has always been there to play with as additional entertainment in the studio and i am beginning to accumulate a nice selection of finished work.

Hopefully, I can have a website of just animal paintings and drawings up and running by the end of this sumer.

When painting a specific animal I spend time reading about it and then find as many images as possible to simply observe closely. After getting acquainted there is the fun project of painting what I studied.The wolf is a complicated creature. Intelligent and resourceful. This painted has just begun to look for that.

"There is no question that the wolf is hampered by the worst press in all the animal kingdom."_Robt H. Busch

NOW THE FUN PART

Today was one of those times when you walk into the studio and the composition has already been activated in your mind. Maybe it happened when counting out corn at a fresh veg. stand or walking the dog. The important thing is that it feels like a gift of the gods. so many times the painter strives for days to click into the "right" lines, or find that you are too tight to make quality marks that day.

I haven't worked in combinations of figures in a long time. If this still looks promising tomorrow, i'll dive in and begin painting .

 FROM SKETCHES TO CANVAS

     After selecting the images from the sketches in the slide show below, I begin diving into the project of a painting. This will be a 4' x 4' composition. 

     When preparing a background , my preference is to create a setting that is not narrative and rather abstract. I want it to have an energy and direction that can hold up to that of the moving figure.

     This process is ongoing even as the figure(s) are worked onto the canvas.

    

RE ENTRY INTO STUDIO WORK

There is nothing like a dear friend and fellow artist to pull you back on track.

Choreographer James Canfield is rehearsing in town with Sarah Slipper's NorthWest Dance Project.

It feels like old home week. James invited me into his rehearsals nine years ago and I haven't stopped drawing movement since.

After leaving Oregon Ballet Theatre, James is now Artistic Director of the Nevada Ballet.

His dynamic floor work provides wonderful notes that have me racing into the paint studio again.

The slide show attached is a selection of notes sketched over the last few weeks.