After... step4

Here is the last of the red...

After ... 2

Here is the second installment of my art called, "After"....

New Painting started...

Here is the first step towards a new 24 by 36 inch painting titled "After".

Let me know what you think !

"Before"... finished !

It took a while, but it is finally finished.

The vacation and holidays at the end of December was the perfect time to get this painting wrapped up ... probably due to some very cold weather and some good movies on TV that encouraged me to stay inside !

I used a very translucent acrylic blue ("Prussian blue", I think) which gave the body a "scratchy" or "beaten-up" look which I liked. It also hinted at an unhealthy lifestyle... to go along with the "boxed-in" and "black clouds" that have "haunted" the subject of this painting.

Selling it?
I probably won't sell this painting right away. I am hoping to have "Before" and "After" completed and hung side-by-side so selling the first one is out of the question ... at least for a while.

Next...
I am already working on "After" ... which seems appropriate as we head into the "New Year's Resolution" season.

Tune in here for updates on the next painting.

Before 9 - couple months off for...

It has been about 2 months since I last posted an update on this painting.

... probably due to lots of exciting things going on at Toastmasters (see my TM blog for more about that) along with an evening class (for business).

It is good to get back to painting and I'm looking forward to having some time over the holidays to make some more progress.

D

Before 8 - first "color" added

It is amazing how a few extra minutes that might have been wasted can be turned into progress.

The small progress this time is the addition of gray to the painting. It did not take long ... as a matter of fact, it was done while I was waiting for my dinner to cook...

... in the microwave !

The end is in sight... hopefully this painting will be posted to the NoteWordy.com gallery soon !

Before 7 - after six weeks off

I had not realized how long it had been since I last worked on this painting... Aug.10th was the last update.

What happened since then?

Well, I went to Chicago (and did about 3 minutes of standup comedy at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts open mic night).

I went to Montana for a family reunion.

I went to NH for a couple days with my Dad & sister.

And lots of Toastmasters activities!

As Lt.Gov.Marketing for District 53 Toastmasters, I am in charge of many activities (and I can't help getting involved in others too). It is alot of fun and all of it is a "growth experience" so I don't feel too bad that the painting progress is slow.

Besides, there haven't been too many comments on this blog, so it's hard to tell if anyone is paying attention anyways! (If you are reading this... leave a comment and let us know what you think of this blog.)

Before 6

The weather was TOO nice this weekend ... but I still managed to paint a little more on the "Before" picture.

I was surprised that I still have a good amount of black to do... and since much of it is in odd places on the canvas, I have found that it is easier to do in sections and let things dry (so that I'm not putting my hand in wet paint and tracking it all over the place).

Oh, I should add that I have started walking with slight bursts of jogging. I will have to work my way up to really running... but at least I won't look as much like the painting !

Before - 5 Weekend of Progress

Again, some rainy weather this past weekend helped speed my progress on the current work.

It was also a good rest between working out and working in the yard... but, unfortunately, the sun came out on Sunday!

As the painting starts to come together, I'm starting to think about the other colors that will be added soon... I have some gray but I'm not sure if I'm happy with the current shades of blue or purple that I have.

In a few days, we will see what I decided.


Any thoughts or questions about the progress so far?

Leave a comment below !

P.S. I also created a self-portrait this weekend and added an electronic thumbnail version of it to the NoteWordy Artist page.
Check it out... http://notewordy.com/Artists.html

Before - 4 ... Progress due to rain

I made some good progress on the painting this weekend due to a rainy day on Sunday here in CT.

Since Saturday was so sunny (and taken up with a great full day Toastmasters event), I was ready for a change of pace and the rainy weather on Sunday really helped make sure that I relaxed, took care of a few errands and did not overextend my sore back. (which I probably would have done if it was sunny and I worked in the yard).

Boy that sounds boring!

... but it really wasn't.

I got caught up on a bunch of things and really got into "the groove" with the painting... but I guess you had to be there !

Stay tuned for the next update ! I think I am nearly done with black paint which means color is just around the corner!

Before - 3

Progress has slowed on the painting.

I hate it when "life" gets in the way of my art!

In particular, I've been doing quite a bit for Toastmasters (see my TM blog here) as well as work.

I've also started cleaning up the yard at my house. Maybe "cleaning up" does not give you a true idea of the full scope of what is needed.

I am hacking down overgrown brush, dealing with poison ivy, avoiding prickly bushes and, in general, trying to make at least a little progress towards a good looking environment.

It's all about progress! One way or another !

Dave

Before-2 plus "dark art"

I probably should have said this sooner...

This painting is "acrylic on canvas" and it measures 24 x 36 inches.

I expect that it will not include a frame when it is offered for sale ... but you never know.

Some readers have asked that I post a picture that shows the pencil work better... so here it is. The overall picture is pretty dark, but it should give you a better idea for the basic layout of the painting.

Any suggestions?

Any questions?

please leave a comment below !

Before - 1

Here are the first faltering steps toward completion.

There is going to be quite a bit of black on this painting, so I figured I would jump right in and start there.

The concept behind the painting is to evoke the feeling of hopelessness and despair associated with being overweight.

If you could see the author, you might think that this is intended as a self-portrait ... but the person in this painting has much more hair (on his head).

You can also see what happens when I just want to use up whatever amount of paint is on my pallette before quitting for the day. (That's the amorphous blob toward the middle of the painting.)

New Art started... "Before"

Wheels has a new painting in process and you will be able to see it as it progresses by tuning in to this blog....

This painting will be titled, "Before" and is part of a series called "Before & After".

The picture to the right is the blank canvas with the pencil lines added. "Before - Zero", so to speak.

It is also one of the first paintings to be auctioned off on eBay by the author.

While this "in-process" painting is being done, there will be other previous works offered for bidding via ebay so be sure to add this blog to your "Blog Reader" !

(Google has a pretty good blog reader in case you don't have on yet.)