Strong Women Series #8 - Supplication "Myrtle"

For painting #8 in this series, I found an image

 in a free image site online that I really liked, 

so I messed around with it a bit 

until I found something I thought might work. 

I guess it is kind of a double exposure sort of thing.

The following photos show the progression of the painting.

I didn't take as many as I usually do.

When I came to painting the hands,

I zoomed in on the photo to help me. 

Of course they're not exactly right, but that's ok.

Supplication "Myrtle"   oil on Masonite   18 x 12 inches

I just learned this new thing on the new Blogger format, that if you scroll over the image the title appears. I hope it works, but until I know for sure, I am going to write it under the photo.

So I think Myrtle is a strong woman. She takes no guff and appreciates life.

Is she a strong woman in your mind?

I so appreciate that you stopped by to take a look!

If you have questions about my work,

please do not hesitate to send me an email.

Or comment on this (but if you want a private answer

you will have to give me your contact, on my email). 

My email address is in my introduction at the top on the right side of the blog.

Ok, I have two more paintings to reveal in the coming weeks. I can't wait to show you.

I can't wait to have a show of these paintings!

I hope you are safe and well.

🎨

Strong Women Series #7 - Peaceful Sleep

She was very nervous. It was the first time she had ever modeled. 

All of us at the life drawing class assured her it would be fine ... she was brave and it was fine!

She did a good job. It is not an easy thing to do (I can only imagine ... I have sat for about 5 minutes a couple of times when a model was late or whatever ... but not without clothes!).

As Peter Steinhart wrote in The Undressed Art 

(here he was speaking about artist's guilds, which protect the model ... 

but at the time of publication there was only the Bay Area Models' Guild):

"It was more than just the money. The idea of a guild was that artists needed models, and models needed artists, but that each had problems connecting with the other. There was no training course for a model; most typically started out by telling the lie that they had modeled for someone else. Without training, modeling is a hit-and-miss kind of thing, whereby a model may or may not know how expressive he or she may be, or how to pose for long periods without suffering muscle strain or fatigue. A model may not know that it is usual to show up at work with a timer and a robe or that usually one is not required to pose for more than twenty minutes without a five minute break between poses, during which the model may stretch, rest, snack or phone a friend. The model may not have a clear idea how to handle an artist who shows more than a professional interest, how to retain one's privacy when that is wanted, how to converse with artists when that is wanted".

This drawing is in the book:

Seated Nude Woman Wearing a Mask by Thomas Eakins

Apparently, Eakins was an enthusiastic supporter of

nude life drawing, even posing nude for photographs

that his students used to draw from.

Eakin's drawing above was of a school teacher he persuaded to model, 

and kept her identity a secret! 

(That mask certainly is familiar ... except hers covers the whole face! 

Glad we don't have to do that.)

She went on to pose for engravings that adorned

the silver dollar, the half dollar, quarters and dimes for the next fifty years.

She became famous but still remained a school teacher. 

Check out Anna Williams. 

Googling around for artist's guilds, 

I found the website

 artmodeltips.com 

but I don't know if it is current. 

It looks good but how do you find out if there are recent updates?

Anyway, if you have the chance, read Peter Steinhart's book, 

The Undressed Art.

I think it is a wonderful intelligent and informative read for both artists and models.

The following photos show my original drawing 

from that life drawing class

ages ago

and then the progress to my painting in the studio.

(I see, after not looking at this for awhile, her face is way too white!)

Peaceful Sleep  (Holly)      12 x 18 inches     oil on Masonite

Peaceful Sleep (Holly) is the 7th in my Strong Women series 

because it takes a strong person 

to pose in the nude for the sake of art! 

Have you ever modeled for a life drawing class or artist? 

What was it like for you?

Thank you so much for checking into this little blog.

I remain hopeful about the future, in spite of everything ...

so make sure you do the things you love to do 

and stay safe and healthy while doing them!

🎨    💓

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!

🎨