A good rainy day to finish up details. I wanted to finish in time to send this for the Juried Show at the Randolph County Community Art Center Gala. I'm really pleased with the light on his face, and am going to look around for some photo subjects with similar lighting to work on this effect. I hope my Dad likes the painting as much as he likes Popcorn!  :)

A few days off from my paying job to get some work done. I have been studying Soon Y. Warren 's "Paint Vibrant Watercolors "   to add some drama to my still lifes. I am planning to enter the "Through the Looking Glass" exhibit at Tamarack, and this series of videos and the book have some wonderful examples of painting glassware. She is certainly a master at glass. I have taken photos along the way, and may post them later on. It is amazing what a difference technique can make!  As for this photo, I currently have two paintings going and both are wet, so I sorted my paint box. I love this little key thingy for squeezing the last bit of paint. ( Don't be impressed with the manicure, a few seconds later it was covered with Pthalo Blue cause I can't leave well enough alone!) The trick is not to squeeze too tight, so the tubes won't break and get paint all over you. Most of my paint is Daniel Smith, but I have a few others suggested during workshops that I have tried. The big tube of Cobalt in the background is American Journey from Cheap Joe's, & I am using that for the shirt in Kettle Korn. (It most closely matches my Dad's eye color). Now that I'm all organized and my wash is dry, (Not Laundry)  I'm going back to my cubby and add another layer!:)

Today I wanted to jump right in and paint, but took a really hard look at what I had. I felt the shadow on his forehead was getting "muddy", so I played around on my tester book with some different colors. At the top right is my original mix: New Gamboge, Anthraquinoid red, and Fr. Ultramarine. After it dried, I though it looked dull, so I took a tip from Mary Whyte's portrait book and switched out my red for quin. Rose. (All the paints I am using for this are Daniel Smith) When I "floated them together, I got something that wasn't like any skin I had ever seen, but I though it would make a good shadow when washed over what I already had. It is drying now, so I'm gonna start some laundry and BE PATIENT! Then I will remove the masking and see where I am.
Happy Painting!  :)

Happy Father's Day to my Dad!
I had hoped to have this painting completed by Father's day, but I have a few extra projects on my plate right now. I am working with a group of ladies from The League for Service to bring the artwork from the many talented folks of the West Virginia Watercolor Society into the August 3rd fundraiser for the League. The folks of the WVWS have been VERY generous in providing the art to be auctioned. My part is coordinating, counting and documenting the art. I will have some still lifes in the auction as well.
So far, I am loving the warm glow of sunlight on his chin and nose. I have to put this disclaimer on this image, however. My dad's teeth and eyes are masked with MASKING FLUID so they look a little funny right now. I don't usually do this, but I wanted to do some darker washes with out messing up his eyes and mouth.
I'll keep you posted with Progress!    :)