A Deviation in Surfaces: Daily Painting #10 - Homage to Alphonso Mucha

Bottle Front: Homage to Alfonso Mucha "Amethyste

Tonight's artwork features an unconventional format....the wine bottle.  This work is painted with acrylic on gessoed glass, and features the figure of a woman somewhat provocatively positioned in an evening gown tending to her hair.   This is based, rather loosely on an advertisement Mucha did in  1900 for Amethyste with a similar figure.  The photo right shows the back of the bottle, with the text "Homage to Alphonso Mucha".  While not really "fine art", I have created a number of unique individual pieces that could be considered painted sculpture.  The artwork isn't really finished until all sides have been painted (and I haven't done to bottom side yet) and the piece has been completely sealed.  I am planning to do a whole 'set' of images that relate to the work of Alphonso Mucha. 

Back side of bottle with both text and texture.

 Just for fun, I am showing my mantle at home will this newest work along with five other completely unique designs.   What do you think?  

Day 9 of Challenge: Study for Young Molly in Blue

4" x 4" study of Molly in Blue

This little 4 x 4 painting, like the one I posted yesterday, is of a young girl.  This time, rather than wearing yellow, she's in blue.  This is based on a photo taken of the child while she was outdoors.  The image from yesterday was taken indoors with natural light from an adjacent window.  Let me know what you think.  I'm not entirely happy with the bright color I put in the highlight of her bang and the curl over her left shoulder.  This painting a day thing (in my opinion) is indeed challenging, but for me to be really happy with a painting, I think I need a couple of days to contemplate my 'finished' piece and decide (after I've slept on it) what I could do to make it better.

Day 8 of Challenge: 4" x 4" Study of Molly in Yellow

4" x 4" Study of Molly in Yellow
Oil on Panel

Here's my posting for Monday September 9....a 4 " x 4" little study for a future painting Molly in Yellow.  I also painted another little portrait of Molly this evening.  I'm saving it to post tomorrow.  It's a much stronger painting than this.  The above photo fails to capture the warmth in the sun-lit part of her face in the original painting.

Day 7 Bekah

Day 7 Painting: Bekah With Her Hair Up

I did this work this evening...a bit of a surprise that it turned out as well as it did.  This is Bekah, and I completed it on 11 x 14 linen, based on a photo I took of her last year at the Conroe Art League event.  I think it's a pretty good likeness.  To the right is the photo I used as a reference.  Doesn't hurt that the model is absolutely gorgeous! Feedback welcome.

Day 6 Challenge - Jennifer The Party Girl

Jennifer as Party Girl - (3.5" x 5") My Day 6 Painting

Tonight's post is of a photo I took several years ago of a friend at a party having a darned good time, and ignoring me as I stalked her to try to get a good photograph.  The painting itself, is quite small... 3 1/2 inches by 5 inches (that's at least on the small side for me).  Most of my other paintings have been 8 x 10.  General thoughts - warm light, cool shadows, with a sneaky wine glass that perhaps I should have been clever enough to eliminate.  But, hey, sure was fun to paint.  Don't those funky glasses (I'm referring to the optical enhancers) make a major retro statement?  In the future, those grandkids of ours will be looking back and saying...oh, she must have been a painter from the 1950's (Oh no! I wasn't born yet!).  And I've got to say, those hands are not my very best...but given that I did this in 2 hours, not so bad.  Hope all the other daily painters are having a ball out there.

Howard "Pee" Pugpants - Revised from the 1 day Painting

Note, I am also reposting Mr. Pugpants (left), because I believe I failed to serve him seriously in his search for mating opportunities. (Note, this is the enhanced Howard, where I spent a considerable amount of time trying to truly capture the beauty of his fur.) However, Mr. Pugpants, I think if you want to make it with the ladies, you may need to change your tie selection.... and I do have photos of you looking smarter.  So watch out viewers - if I have any - Howard will return to stun the audience.

Day 5 Challenge: Prayers From The Descending Angel

This 8 x 10 painting is a close up from the "Descending Angel" I painted and posted yesterday.  This painting was quite challenging, despite having completed the painting yesterday.  The image I am painting from is a photo of a sculpture...so the 'skin' tone is uniform with variations depending on the natural reflection from the light source on the sculpture. I felt that I was unable to create a likeness that also looked sculptural without eyes (the image I am referencing had nearly closed eyes looking downward. I clearly pushed the color using my knowledge / experience with portraiture.  This work will benefit with some further work!

Day 4 : Study for Descending Angel

This little 8 x 10 painting I completed this evening is called "Study for Descending Angel".  I am so much happier with my figurative work than my still life.  This is based on a photograph of an angel statue playing the lute.  There is something so satisfying about creating some version of a face that is close to what I intend and what I see.  Tomorrow I may do a close up of just the face.  Then again, maybe it'll be another burka person wearing a hat!

Day 3 Painting: Hat Still Life with Indian Blanket and Rug

Tonight's posted painting is a still life painting of a hat with an indian blanket and rug.  This is an 11 x 14 painting on linen.  This composition is a big odd, as it looks like it might be someone in a burqah with a cowboy hat on.   Don't know what I have in store tomorrow.

I also worked on Mr. Pugpants this morning, thankfully and he looks much better.  However, I failed to take a photo of it before I left the studio  this afternoon.  So, I'll post it tomorrow along with my day 4 painting.

Mr. Pugpants - My Day 2 Submission

Okay, my painting for today is Mr. Howard P. Pugpants,  Mr. H. "Pee"  Pugpants, who might just take action using his middle initial once he see's this quick late night painting attempt. The gentleman canine depicted in this painting is the famous, dog-about-town, the son of fellow painter Nancy Medina.  If you scroll down the page on Nancy's page, you will see Mr. Pugpants in more casual wear.  The photo I am painting from was taken on date night several months ago.   So sorry Mr. Pugpants, I know that this painting does not do your stud- like self justice.  I will likely spend a few more minutes (or hours) on you tomorrow before I start painting number 3.  Hmm, not so sure this painting a day will actually improve my reputation at this point!  But I will conquer self doubt and go forward.  Ha!

Back to Accept the Challenge 30 paintings in 30 days

Well, I took a hiatus of what...close to 9 months?  (And, no, no birth was given, unless it is to my art.)  But I'm back painting...quite a lot, and just haven't taken the trouble to blog.  So, here goes.  I am officially participating in the Lesley Saeta challenge...  to Leslie Saeta's blog  to learn more specifics about the challenge.  

I am posting my first painting here...it is called "Rusty Wins His Metal".  This is based on a photograph that was drawn, randomly, at the Dutch Art Gallery in July 2013 for an event called "The Dog Days of Summer" where I did a demo painting 'Tiara' a sweet dog in need that I think is still available for adoption.  If you go here,  you'll see me (looking like I'm posing) painting "Tiara".

This painting is for the lucky customer, the owner of Rusty, so I hope she's happy with it. However, if the owner (or for that matter Rusty) isn't happy with it,...it can all be modified, because oil paint is very forgiving!  OOH!  This is the first time I've seen the photo and the painting side by side, and I might need to make some changes....I think I made poor Rusty a bit thinner in the face than he deserves.  There you go...some painters are never satisfied with their work.  I just want to get it right!