Okay, I have to get my Star Wars reference in somewhere. But seriously, there has to be a dark side in order for there to be a light side. And it takes both a dark side and a light side to create form. Otherwise we're back to one dimensional flat surfaces. We all have a yin and a yang. The dark side is not necessarily a bad thing. It's simply the opposite of the light. And it's important because it helps define who we are. So let the shadows fall so the forms can be seen.
Step Away From the Canvas
I've been feeling a bit guilty that I haven't gotten to easel as much as I wanted this past week. But yesterday as I sat looking at this painting and the very poor reference from which I have to work, I began to notice some significant things that I had missed before. I thought I had them right, but I've been away from the canvas long enough now to begin to see the forest instead of just the trees. It's pretty impossible for me to paint without getting my nose right up there in what I'm doing. But this was a good reminder that it's just as important to not only step back from the canvas at times, but to completely step away from it, leave it alone, let my eyes forget what they've been seeing, so that they can actually see more clearly again. I find this true in relationships as well. Sometimes we get so caught in believing that a person one way that we stop seeing that they are many ways and many things. It's too easy to see people as one dimensional. I want so much for others to understand me and yet sometimes I'm the one who needs to step away from the canvas of our relationship and allow myself to see them more fully, as a whole person, and even through their eyes. When things just don't seem to be going right, step away...
Peek - A - Boo
HIs face is beginning to emerge. He has skin tones, though not enough yet. Some of his features are coming through. My problem is that whenever I stand back and look at him, I see my son. Am I seeing what isn't really there? Am I painting what I see subconsciously? Or am I just verifiably insane? We may never know.
Art Show at the Hoffman Center
"Seeing The Light"
Art exhibit by Bay City artist Karen Gale
Karen has prepared a selection of about thirty paintings to exhibit at the gallery at Hoffman Center for the Arts during the month of January. Her oil paintings will examine the idea of searching for, finding, and seeing light physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Karen's oil painting classes were so popular this fall she will continue themThursdays, starting January 7th, 10am to 1pm. New students are welcome.
An opening reception will be held Friday, January 1 from 3p.m. to 5p.m. Karen will be available to discuss her work and the show. Refreshments will be served.
The Eagle has Landed
Just a few subtle changes, but I feel better about the draperies. The eagle has landed on the flag pole, and the blue flag background is drying in preparation for the stars. Another wonderful quote that I can attribute to Brian Hoover is, "Don't make decisions based on laziness or fear." I have to admit I didn't want to deal with painting stars on the flag. I looked everywhere for an image of a flag on a pole that only showed the stripes. Yes, sometimes I am that ditzy. When I figured it out, I realized just how lazy I was trying to be and put in the blue flag. Why do we so often insist on taking the easy way out? We are creatures that constantly veer to the path of least resistance when it is after a job hard fought and well done that we feel the very best.
Hat's Off
Well, I'm off and running with the hat at least. It still needs more work, but I'll need to find a better reference before I can finish it. His face is finding it's shape as well. It's slow going, but at least there's progress. It's amazing how being emotionally attached to the subject can make it so difficult to be objective about something even so detached as painting the figure. It's simply hard to look at what is really there. The human being is such an emotional creature. Our feelings, experiences and perceptions effect everything we do and every decision we make. It's not always for the best, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Drapery
I love painting cloth. There's something about watching the hard and soft edges and the value changes bring depth and form the canvas. And I'm typically pretty good at, even if I do say so myself. But these draperies are not cooperating. There are only two things that can go wrong - shape and color - so I walked away and will go back to it after I've taken a break. I simply can't decide if it's shape, color, or both.
Shape and Color
I heard my professor, Brian Hoover, say it 101 times and my own students hear me say it over and over again. There are only two things that can go wrong with a painting - shape and color. So the first thing I'm working on is creating a shape that will work. As I said, I am working from several different, very poor and very old references. If I were trying to create a generic person it would be one thing. But this is actually supposed to look like a particular person when I'm finished. So I have to be really careful about getting it right from the start.
Background - Take II
While I really did like the background originally, it just didn't feel right for the figure. So I'm going in a completely different direction. While wet paint makes for good layering and blending, it doesn't work so well for starting completely over. So I'll have to wait for this to dry and then do another layer on top of it. But already I feel like this is the better direction to go. I remember one time I was traveling with my extended family and were caravanning in two or three cars. Our car got off track and they called to see if we were okay and if we were headed in the right direction. I said, "We are now!" Even though we were no longer on the same road as they were, we had corrected our course. Often I feel overly bad because I've gotten of course in a painting, or in life. But life is all about making those course corrections. We can never go back to where we were before. But because of them we learn, get back on track, and are all the wiser for it.
Oh So Slowly
It doesn't look like I've done much here, but the truth is that I've done a lot of work that can't be seen on the canvas. The request is that I use one reference for the face, a different reference for the hat and clothes, and I have to adjust the lighting on the subject. So that big blob of brown in the middle of the canvas actually took a great deal of effort. Have I mentioned that this is going to be a very difficult painting? Yes, I'm whining about it.
The Hardest Thing
I was writing this blog post and got into the middle of a very personal and emotional bit about this painting when the page crashed. The internet didn't crash. My web browser didn't crash. My computer didn't crash. Just this page. I feel like I needed a minute to re-think what I was saying. So I'll just say this... This painting is going to be the hardest one I've ever done. It's a gift for someone I love dearly. He requested it of me long ago and I haven't been able to emotionally deal with painting it. But the time has come. I don't have any good references, he wants the references I do have to be combined, and I'm emotionally involved. All of these are a wonderful recipe for a grand disaster. So if you ever wanted to see a painter struggle, just keep following along with this one. It should be a great exercise in trial and error and trying again.
A Little Background
So, a little background information... This is a commission piece. I'm excited to be doing this one even though there are going to be several challenges. And now that I've got a pretty cool looking background going, I'm realizing it may blend in too much with the uniform. So I may have to alter my background before I make any more progress. Getting your background right is kind of like starting with a good foundation. You don't want to have to go back and try to fix it after you've built on top of it. So I'm off to do a little research, make sure I have his uniform color accurate, and then make a decision about the background. Is that enough background for you?
Here Comes Santa Claus
As an elementary school teacher I often heard the debate about the truth about Santa Claus. For myself, I believe he is a wonderful symbol of Christmas. He wears red, the first color of Christmas, which reminds us of the atoning blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He wears white, a sign of purity and of being washed clean through the atonement of our Savior. He gives gifts freely, asking nothing in return. He finds happiness and joy wherever he goes. He encourages goodness, charity, and love. The commercial world can make of him what they will, but for me he will always be a charming symbol of what Christmas was ever meant to be.
White on White
One of my major Ah-Ha moments as a painter was when I realized that white is never really white. After painting Santa's hair and hat I've decided that all my students should paint a Santa. There are at least 101 shades (hues) of white. When we look at clouds we tend think "white". But next time you see a cloud, really look. How many different shades are there? How much of it is really even white? And so it was today with Santa. A few strokes of straight white to set off the highlights. But most of it is one of several different hues.
A Right Jolly Old Elf
I'm loving how his personality is coming through. There is still work to do, but I kinda like him. We've all met lots of Santa's Helpers over the years. Even as an adult I've wondered what it would be like to be awakened in the night to Santa in my living room. What kind of a person would it take to find him a stranger in your house and not be afraid of him? Have you ever met someone who was so full of pure love that that they put you at ease instantly? Someone you felt you could hug and sit on his lap no matter your age? It's fun to enjoy the traditions of Christmas. At the same time, I want to be the kind of person that makes everyone feel they are with someone safe.
The Ugly Underneath
When I finished with the underpainting I sat back and though, "Ugh!" I wasn't discouraged. I know it's just the underpainting. But it's not pretty. It's flat. There's not value. There's no form. And then my thoughts, as they usually do, began to make the connection to life. One of the reasons I love painting with oils is that they don't dry quickly. I do have old canvases with old paintings on them and I can simply paint over them and make them new again. But with wet paint I don't necessarily start over every day. I build. I layer. I add and move and adjust until the ugly disappears and the pretty pops out. And then I realize that there was never any ugly in the first place. It was just a simple beginning. Sometimes I see myself as ugly. Then I realize I'm really just being built, layered, moved around, and adjusted. The beauty is there all the time.
Who Is It?
Guess who stopped by the studio today? It felt so good to finally be sitting at the canvas again. Thanksgiving travels, my art show opening, and the craziness of life and have kept me away long enough. It gets to the point where it literally becomes painful not to paint. And in addition to Santa, I started a painting for my brother and another one for a special someone who will be having a very big birthday coming up soon. Aaaahhh... it feels good to be back in business.
A River Runs Through It
I don't get to paint every day. But if I can't paint, the next best thing is being inspired by my students. Richard just retired as a pediatric neurosurgeon and decided to try those hands at painting. He had never touched a brush to canvas before this class. Pretty impressive, don't you think? I love then enthusiasm of my students. They warm my heart and motivate me to get back to my own canvas as soon as possible. What a fun day.
Safety
Well, here she is at last, safe and sound in the comfort of her chair. Maya Angelou said, “The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” I remember talking to a fellow educator several years ago. He was telling about his teenage daughter and how erratic her behavior had become. He shared how he had confronted her with it one day and told her that all of her teachers and neighbors and others always tell him what a kind, sweet, wonderful young woman she is. He asked her why she couldn't act that way at home. She suddenly cried out and said, "Dad, I have to have somewhere that I can be ugly!" I've always remembered that. Having a place that I can be ugly, or just be me whatever that looks like, is most certainly a comfort and safety.
