Begin Again Final session

 

A lot of work on the background tonight. Minor adjustments to the figure. 

Begin Again

 Today was the final session with this painting. It is my 4th painting in the journey into power series and the second warrior painting. I might continue work on the background. 

Begin Again Session II

 

In this pose you ground down to rise up. I have another session with this one- 

Begin Again

 Another tip from the yoga studio to the art studio. Begin Again. It took 5 or more tries to get this figure in the right place on this canvas. Seeing the hands was non negotiable, and feeling the weight in the right hip-

This is the first pass- laid in all the darks. I kept with a cool pallet as the under layer. We will see where this one goes.

Plein Air Sessions

 I took my time finding this scene and setting up. 90% of my Dock paintings are done in studio from reference photos. Sometimes when I set up in plein air I forget how to draw. I forget how to paint. Every thing erases from my mind and I can’t escape  my anxiety. Or perhaps my ego. What if people are watching? What if it’s not the right scene? I can’t believe I left my kids home alone? I hear kids playing. My kids should be here. I here couples talking. I repeat. I don’t know how to do this. I’m scared. In the studio there is nothing but certainty. I know I have to push through the downward spiral. I talk myself into staying. I pause, breathe, walk away for a moment. You can do it. Stay in it. Just stay. Okay- that’s not so bad- I think I hit a right note, one right note. Search for another. Boom. Okay- I can do this. I think. 

Searching

 Here’s a developed drawing of Alex wearing a fedora. The drawing took several hours. Her gesture appears to be searching while I myself am in a searching season. Something about applying layers and layers of graphite helps you to connect or perhaps escape. 

Working through Uncertainty

 Emotions of uncertainty surrounds this effort. When you get this far and you realize there are problems with the drawing. Not sure about this piece. Not sure at all. Maybe the right side can be saved.  

Me, You, Universal

 Tonight was the final session with this painting. It is probably the closest thing to a self portrait I’ve done in a while. Even though the painting was created from a photo of someone else. The project slowly became me. And I hope it’s you, I hope it’s universal.