Progress: Painting No. 7.5

Progress: no. 7.5

The semester will be over in 3 1/2 weeks. I don't feel that I've accomplished enough in this independent study. After looking through the 14 or so pieces I've worked on all I could think was "Shit, none of these are done. None of these are strong enough." Next semester I will hopefully be working with Cliff Peacock to build a presentable portfolio for when I graduate, for grad school, for an artist in residence program, for anything, because after I graduate I won't have access to these minds and their wealth of knowledge and experience. After this I'm on my own.

Outcome: Painting #14

And the tape comes off! I LOVE this painting, and apparently I'm not the only one.


(I'm going to rant now, so please feel free to skip this part)
I've had problems with people not respecting my studio space; storing their supplies, 'borrowing' my palate knife, using my paper towels, that kind of thing, nothing major, just annoyances. However when I got into the studio this evening someone had MOVED my paintings and TAKEN my easel. I realize it's not MY easel, but there are plenty of easels in the main studio. Maybe it's not that big of a deal, but every semester I've painted I've had at least one painting spoiled by someone's negligence. GRR.

(Now back to the story)
George has occupied an independent study space for almost as long as I've been taking painting classes at the college. He graduated in the spring... but he's still around. He's been working on developing his portfolio and redying his applications to grad school. John Hull, the department head, who was teaching a class at the time, walked by. He joked with George about making him pay rent and made some disparaging comments about the painting he was working on, all in jest. Later in the evening George was looking at the painting above as John walked by. John said, "Oh, so your looking at a painting I actually do like," causing me to throw my arms up in victory. John, at least with me, will not offer his opinion unless asked. So I was really jazzed to hear he liked it.

You can see some of George's older paintings here. (I don't like his website)
And look here for John Hull's work.

Also Cliff Peacock, one of my favorite painting teachers, is currently on sabbatical. He is a finalist of the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2009. Which means that he'll have his painting up at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in DC. THE F-ING SMITHSONIAN! Very proud to call him my teacher.

Progress: Painting #15

This color study has come into its own, deserving to be counted among the rest of my work. Yay progress!

Progress: Painting #12 ( no longer a diptych)

Painting #12 has been sitting in my studio mocking me for the past few weeks. Taunting me with the possibility of what it could be. As a diptych the contrast between the two panels took away from the surface quality. I singled out the linear panel, flipped it upside down and went to town. Here's the result. We'll see where it goes from here.

Progress: Painting #14

Here's some fun stuff. I can't wait to take the tape off.

Progress: Painting #13

You Know, 'The South' is OK Sometimes

Scenes like this are quite distracting while driving.

Color Studies

Do forgive me for the long pause between posts. These are all 12'x12' pine plywood. Multiple teachers have been coercing me to change up my palate. So I stepped timidly forward in these color studies (which, ummm, let's just say they're less successful in my opinion). I chose to work in a close value range in each of these. As the cream on cream study shows, the close values make the contrast between wood and paint more palpable. The viewer has to struggle to accept the illusion.