My First Car

This painting is 24"x24", in case you're wondering...

Based on the title of this blog, one would think that this post is about my first car, the one I owned when I was 16 (which was a wood paneled Datsun 210, in case you're wondering), but it's not. This is about the first car (and only car, at this point) that I've ever painted. I am currently working on a painting of a couple that is standing next to car. Normally I don't include backgrounds and rarely do I paint "props", I like the simplicity of just painting people, but something about this car and the composition made me paint it. I'm not sure what it is about this car but I think that was a good decision.

I've been working on this painting for a few days, and while it still needs some work, I'm liking it. Painting metal isn't easy, by the way. The reflections, especially on the bumper (which I have not really worked on) will probably be difficult but I am up for the challenge. My studio-mate, Tracey Kessler, stopped by while I was painting today and I mentioned to her that this was my first car. She was impressed and thought that perhaps I should paint more. I thought about it and realized that I just wasn't a car person.

I don't have the passion for cars like some people do. I've owned multiple cars and my thought process in buying them was always more functional than "fashionable". Does it run? Can it hold what I need? Yes?Good. I'll take it. I'm not into fancy cars or expensive ones. I just don't care enough about cars in general which then makes painting them often difficult. I'm just not interested. Another studio-mate of mine, Scott Inguito, has a whole series on El Caminos. Now he's probably a car guy and you can tell by his paintings that he really likes the El Camino. His paintings are beautiful and I am sure part of what makes them so is his passion for the vehicle. Being passionate about what you paint can make of break a painting. It adds that special "something" that moves you, and hopefully the viewer. I'm more of a cloth and people person. I LOVE painting images of clothing and interesting people. That is what gets me excited. That's what I love to paint.

While I will never be a car person (much to the dismay of my husband who is trying to convince me we NEED a Lexus or a Range Rover...uh, no babe, we don't), I am enjoying painting this car. I don't know if I will be painting many in the future, but you never know. Maybe my husband will convert me into a car person...then again, probably not.

Painting #7 and #8...

It was a very productive weekend. I finished the underpainting for paintings number seven and eight. One of them just needs one more day and it will be complete, hopefully tomorrow. I dropped off a new painting to Arthaus Gallery and an older piece to Artspan for their annual art auction, which is next weekend. I also worked on my 2011 tax receipts so that they are ready  for my accountant next week. It was no easy chore. I had A LOT of receipts but I am happy to say that despite the large amount of money spent on art supplies, advertising, shipping, etc., I still managed to make a profit. I am hoping that 2012 proves to be an even more profitable year.

Painting number 8's underpainting is complete.

Here's a view of the whole piece. The panel is 24"x24".

This painting is almost done. I should have it finished tomorrow.

Bring on the Month of March

My crazy painting schedule continues and as February is now over, I am happy to say that the five paintings I needed to complete for the month were completed, in addition to a sixth painting mostly done and a seventh started. I am hoping to get a TON of work done this month, not just the five I previously had as a goal. I recently sold seven paintings in a span of seven days which is amazing and a world record for me, but as much as this feels great, it also means that I have to paint even more so that I can replace what was sold in these galleries. It's a horrible problem to have, right? I am finding that being an artist is a lot harder and demanding than I thought it would be. I am still loving what I do but I sure do wish there were more hours in the day!

Painting number seven was started today.

Painting number six: This is pretty much done. I need to add
some bright whites and super dark browns still.

Here's a close-up. The panel is 16"x20".

Color Boost

Taking pictures of my artwork isn't easy. Often times the whites photograph gray and the overall picture has a cool feel to it, while the paintings are quite warm in color in real life. In addition, the slightly yellow color and "texture" of the wax has not been easy to catch. I am often told that my paintings look better in person. While that is flattering to hear, my galleries have a harder time selling my paintings based on their photos (which many galleries do by posting images on their website and sending photos of new work to clients). I've had gallerist try to take the photos themselves and adjust the color in Photoshop. The color has never been right, and some have been way off.

After three years of playing with my images and trying to get them to look right in Photoshop (and then not being able to consistently recreate what I did with another image), I finally figured out how to make my photos looks warmer and more like the actual paintings. It was real simple and took hitting only one button. I'm not sure I never figured this out before. It was so easy! So what did I do? I used the "color boost" button in the effects section of iPhoto. Simple. I hit the button and VIOLA! A warmer photo. If I hit it twice, it gets even warmer. Any more than that and the image is too yellow. Here's what the new images look like: 

Original: This is what my photos originally look like without any effects. It's pretty
gray and has a "cool" feel to it.

Boost One: This with the color boost effect on 1. It's much warmer. I like this...but
 sometimes I wonder if the effect should be on 2.

Boost Two: This is with a color boost setting of 2. Do you think it looks TOO yellow? I can't decide.
Which one of these effects look more like my actual paintings? I need some opinions.

If you have any opinions, I'd like to hear them. Which one do you think best represents my work?

On another note, I finished the 5th painting of the month today. If you remember, I am on a crazy painting schedule of 5 paintings per month for the next 4 months. I managed to finish a little bit early for this month's deadlines. Fifteen more paintings (at least...although I probably actually need more) to go! Here are paintings number 4 and 5, without the wax:

"Row Boat" 30"x24"
You'll be able to find this painting at Lanoue Fine Art in March.

"Feeding Pigeons", 36"x36"
You will be able to find this painting at ArtHaus Gallery sometime next week.

Paintings #4 and #5

The marathon continues. I haven't had much time (or energy, really) to blog much, but I did want to post some progress on the next two pieces. The one with the women is a 36"x36" panel, a new size for me. I am really liking this size ad it may be a new standard for me...assuming I can get it into my tiny car once it is boxed and ready to ship. I haven't tried it out yet...keep your fingers crossed!

I'm guess this was before pigeons were considered "rats with wings".
I finished this underpainting today. 

And the eyes are starting to go...So much work left to do on this!

First Three Out of Twenty

The first three paintings out of the twenty I need done by the end of May have now been waxed. Please let me know what you think of them. I have been more than a little stressed and anxious about getting work done and I am contemplating not going to Portland this weekend in order to get work done. It's a four day weekend which means at least twenty hours of painting that I am giving up. I am such a work-aholic... but how else am I supposed to get everything done? Good thing I am still enjoying painting otherwise this would be torture!

"Hand Stand", 36" x 24", 2012

"The Secret", 30" x 24", 2012

"Three Sisters", 40"x30", 2012

Painting #2 and #3 Out of 20.

The marathon painting schedule continues. I managed to finish the under-paintings for two pieces today, painting #2 and #3 out of the 20 I need by the end of May.  Now if only I could do without sleep, food, and rest...

This is a 40"x30" panel. It was really hard to figure out the
details of the hands since the photo wasn't very clear. I can't tell
if the girls are holding hands or if the middle girl is doing something
weird with her hands. I am loving the shadows though...

This panel is 30"x 24". I'm liking the rectangular format lately...
I think I angled the camera because the proportions of her
head/ body looks weird, although it doesn't look like that on the
actual painting.

Here is a better image of the whole panel.