Work continues in the effort to complete several portraits prior to our move, finally set for the third week of March. I visited Anita and Sue today, to show them Sue's portrait. They gave me some additional good feedback and I came home with both Sue's and Anita's portraits. I promised I'd varnish Anita's and now have a first coat on it. Sue's will need more work and I hope it has sufficient drying time so I can properly finish it before we depart.
Anita, 2012, oil on canvas, 30 x 24-inches
Sue, work-in-progress, oil on canvas, 30 x 24-inches.
Pat's still is in-work, but I've mustered up the courage to show you. It has had a complete makeover from the one posted a couple of months ago and has a ways to go yet.
Pat, work-in-progress, oil on canvas, 20 x 16-inches.
It has been a little easier to concentrate now that we know our departure date. I hope you had a good day.
fantastic, you are overcoming .
ReplyDeletethe 3 are great.
2013 is going to be such a great year for you, Gary! Don't forget about us when you are living in paradise :) Love your work and I know you are a perfectionist - but that's what makes your work so outstanding.
ReplyDeleteOi Caio,
ReplyDeleteNice to have you visit again and thanks for the kind words. You are always supportive and you know how much this means to me.
Of course, your latest work is vastly more interesting, but few of us are capable of equaling your unique and fantastic paintings.
I hope you're enjoying the warm weather in Sao Paulo! I envy you, but in about 70 days, we should have another thing in common. We are counting down the days until our move and we're VERY excited to enjoy warmth and sunshine year-round.
Have a great day, my friend.
Sincerely,
Gary
Good Morning Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteHow could I forget?! You are my shining light in an otherwise cloudy and rainy world! Perfectionist...me? More like extremely fussy or stubborn or insane. Anyway, it's always nice to hear from you and your positive energy and words make my day!
I have a feeling this new year will be wonderful for you and Jerry, too.
Enjoy your day!
Sincerely,
Gary.
It is so helpful looking at your work. I am learning a lot from you--today about sizing head and shoulder portraits. 30 x 24 is interesting--maybe I'll be working too small for a three quarter portrait on an 18 x 24 canvas? You are always an inspiration. --Now what is the process for going back and revamping an oil portrait? Your word is wonderful and what I like most about it, is you are a stickler, an admirable trait.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Linda,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back from that beautiful vacation and the bad cold, too. Hope the New Year is getting back to an even better normal than 2012. Now, back to work!
Sizing is tricky and it's an art more than a science. I crop the reference photo, then re-crop that to the proportions of the canvas. This often requires a couple of "undo crop" and "re-crop" maneuvers until I get the size I think will work. My test is to print-out a 10 x 8-inch image, then measure the head from side to side. I multiply that measurement by the proper up-scale number (times 2 for a 20x16 or 3 for a 30x24-inch canvas) and hold a tape or ruler up to the canvas to get a feel for how it will look. After that, I usually have a pretty good feel for whether or not it will need additional cropping. Whew! I'm sure you would do this by "feel" and we'd both come out with about the same thing. Is my insanity showing?
As for revamping: I usually wipe off as much of the mistake area as I can, let it dry and think about what to do to fix it until one of those magic moments happen...you know what I mean--You're looking at a painting and, all of a sudden, you jump up with confidence and go to work, sure of what you're doing. I love it when that happens! I don't worry about scraping or sanding the canvas. Evidence of the process has come to be one of the ways of identifying an original "Everest" and I'm okay with it. If my name ever appears on a smooth canvas, it must surely be a fake! The trial-and-error process is the only way I know, and enjoy, doing this. I have to get it wrong in order to know what is right, so I usually go too far initially, then begin the adjustments. But, you do the same thing. It's like juggling bowling balls and machetes!
Finally, Linda, I plead guilty to being a stickler. I just can't help it.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Gary.
It has to be a bit of a relief to have some dates in order. I wish we could have made it to Portland prior to your departure... we won't be coming that way until mid April. Your portrait work is excellent...all the ladies have to be very pleased with them! Did you see any of the articles about the painting of the Duchess of Cambridge? I was just reading them this morning and thought of you when I saw the painter's interview. Such pressure you are under as a portrait painter! I have a renewed appreciation now!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Gary! Hope all goes well as you finish your works.
Good Morning Lisa,
ReplyDeleteAnd a Happy New Year, too. A little late, but good wishes can never be too late or too many. Nice wedding photo--congratulations to your son, his bride and your entire family.
Sorry we'll miss you, Lisa, but hope you'll have a nice time out here. It would have been fun to show you two the city.
I did see the fuss over the royal portrait. It just proves you can never please everyone, especially with a portrait, but I thought the critics were a little too hard on the artist. It makes my way of painting who I want, when I want and taking all the time necessary, seem like a perfect solution to such problems. Being happy in one's work is an invaluable gift and sometimes one must work just as hard to maintain it. Chasing money and/or trying to please everyone can destroy it in a hurry. Must stay vigilant at all times!
Thanks for stopping by, Lisa. Have a nice Sunday.
Sincerely,
Gary.