Florence Baptistry - photo reference for in-progress painting

Baptistry - Step 6 - refocusing central element and background

So, do you remember this photo I was turning into a painting? Well, I’ve continued to work on it, and it’s continued to develop. It still has quite a bit of work. I’m going to do something different with the right side of the painting so that the focus is really on that main building. I found that having the background building inserted with the windows caused too much chaos for the eye and made it difficult to focus on that beautiful doorway that I wanted to have as the focal point. And, since I’ve spent so much time on the painting and the details of this building that so inspired me, I’m willing to take a chance on the background and try something new. It will change some of the dynamics of the picture, but I think it’s for the best. I’m taking my artistic license here!

Sedona Photo Reference

Sedona Landscape in progress

And I’m also working on a painting from a photo I took when  Joanne and I went to Sedona. Joanne and I ended up taking the same photo, and both put it on our MacBook desktops. Mine has been that way consistently since. When we were there, I was incredibly inspired by the rock formations, but I didn’t work on anything on canvas. I knew it was time to take this photo and try to render it on canvas. It’s not done yet. I still have some additional work to do on it. But It’s coming along.

Four Abstracts

In the meantime, I’ve been working on a small series of paintings. Each panting is 10″ x 10″ and they all developed together. Each took on a life ot its own, but they’re all related. I will likely put them all on the wall in this order. I have another mini-series of four more in progress.

So there’s the update for a while. I hope I have more to share soon!

Nature Inspired - by Tracie L. Huskamp

Nature Inspired: Mixed-Media Techniques for Gathering, Sketching, Painting, Journaling, and Assemblage arrived in my studio late last night from Tracie Lyn Huskamp of the Red Door Studio. I pre-ordered her book because, knowing Tracie, I knew the book would be fantastic. And, I was right! Tracie’s calming, soothing personality comes through in the book – through the photos and the text. I highly recommend this new book to anyone who is interested in mixed-media or painting nature.

Baptistry - Step 3 - adding in some more color

I also, as promised, am posting another picture of the Baptistry. I plan to work on it more today, but I haven’t gotten to it yet – exercising and laundry come first! More to come…

Lantern completed - Mixed-Media on 24" x 36" canvas

A few weeks ago I completed all the detailing on the lantern Ive been painting on the 24 x 36 canvas. And I made some changes to the background to give it a bit more depth. Im happy with it. I added some of the detailing with watercolor crayons and sealed the details and then the whole canvas with matte medium. After adding finishing coat, I brought it to the intended recipients- my in-laws. We immediately hung it in their dining room.

Florence Baptistry - photo reference for next painting

I’ve also started another painting. I have been looking at this photo for a while now, wondering whether I was ready to take the plunge and start painting it.

Well, just before Art Unraveled, I did. I drew in the main parts of the buildings with a watercolor pencil and then I added some water to create sone depth and shadows. This helps me to understand the space each area will take up. Then I started to add in some base color. I know the colors look like a cartoon version of this scene, but it will get there. Its all part of what has become my process. Right now, rather than Florence, Italy, the painting looks like it is of Key West, FL!

Baptistry - Step 1 - Sketching in the main shapes

I’ve done more today on the painting, but it still has a long way to go. All the white areas are now painted in and they have several layers of color. The blue background has been painted over so it doesn’t look like water or sky. I don’t have a photo because the light changed in the studio, but I’ll have more to show as I get further on in the painting.

Baptistry - Step 2 - adding in base color

I’m planning to try to blog more often, even if it’s just a single image and a short statement. The way I currently blog takes a long time and that’s why I go weeks without anything for you to see. I hope this will keep me more on track!