Strong Women Series #6 - Woman on a Train

For this painting, I was intrigued by the woman sitting alone

on the LINK train from the Seattle airport to downtown.

She was lost in thought, 

a book in front ...

or maybe a Kindle

or iPad ...

This is the photo i took, candidly - from far away. 

I sketched the woman, too, while riding the train.

The following three photos are from when I was developing

the idea of the painting - in the same 5.5 x 8.5 sketchbook.

I turned the page in my sketchbook and found

some notes I made for the painting:

mystery

color

abstract shapes

 red coat, mauve hat, glasses?

red sign behind with yellow papers

Some ideas I used,

some I did not. For instance, her hat is lime

not mauve and no glasses.

I think there is some mystery about her

and the other riders.

Is she in jail?

What is she reading?

Who are those guys in front of her?

Here's a good question. Why do I think she is a strong woman?

The next series of shots are my painting progressions on the Masonite board.

Below is the finished painting. Those with eagle eyes

will spot the biggest change from the almost 

final above.

Woman on a Train (Heloise)  18 x 12 inches   oil on Masonite

Very happy with this painting - and should note 

that for some (unknown) reason

she became Heloise

as I painted her.

Thanks so much for reading all the way to here!

Happy painting

🎨

Stay safe and sound

😷

Everything's Coming Up Roses - a painting

"Everything's coming up roses"

You have heard that expression, right? 

Or, another one, 

"they're coming out smelling like a rose" (on this deal ... etc).

The link below (Wiki) has lots of info about the song,

Everything's coming up roses 🎵

Ethel Merman sang it in the 1959 Broadway musical, Gypsy, 

and Bette Midler sang it in the 1993 made-for-tv movie, Gypsy. 

They were made about the famous burlesque performer

Gypsy Rose Lee.

Kinda fun to look up the song and then get pulled down rabbit holes

learning about her and the play and movie.

( sorry ... )

Ok - back to my painting, and what does it have to do with roses?

Initial covering up of the original painting

The painting started out life very differently. 

It was a landscape painting 

where I was trying to depict wind ... 

... have you tried that?

I found it pretty much impossible for me

at this time.

So the following shots are progressions of this painting 

as I worked it over several weeks.

The roses come in from my stencil-ing &/or imprinting

roses from a "flat bouquet" called a Lovepop card. 

Got it from my kids on Mother's Day.

(shhhh ... don't tell them I took it apart!)

Beginning in landscape form, I realized it actually is

a vertical format painting!

I put down layers of cold wax and oil -

using at various times:

 brayer, squeegee, marble dust, 

oil stick, palette knife, skewers, ruler, pocket knife, 

... probably more ...

and working flat on my studio table.

These two below are a couple of early stage "wind" paintings.

Nope ...

I am quite happy with my end result, roses - no wind.

Everything's Coming Up Roses   
Oil and Cold Wax Medium on Multimedia Artboard 
adhered to cradled support
   16 x 12 inches
 ($350 + tax)

Best wishes to all who read this blog. May you stay safe and healthy.

🎨

Strong Women Series #5 - Arriving

As I ready this post for publication, 

I critique my painting.

 I did change it (on Aug 1) because

there were a few things that aren't sitting well with me.

The update to this post 
with corrections is
for educational purposes. 

I posted the old painting and the corrected one below,
because

as I say in my banner at the top of the blog,

I am learning, always,

and hauling you along with me.

So here, with my 5th effort so far in this series 

are the progress pics for  "Arriving"  

and the final final. 

The photo above is my corrected painting. 

I took away the stark line between the yellow 

and the blue-gray,

and a few other things.

Here are the two paintings side by side ... 
"Leaving" & "Arriving" (older photo just to show frames).
I tried to match the paint of the found frame (for "Leaving")
and I think it looks fairly good.

So, until next time ...

I hope everyone is staying safe and being healthy.

 I send my best wishes for you

to

keep painting!

🎨