The Tired Angel

This painting is now complete. May I introduce, "The Tired Angel". 12"x24"x1 1/2" gallery wrap acrylic on canvas with a 3D effect made with a product put out by Liquitex called moldeling paste. It's VERY sticky and difficult to work with.
Here's the story of this angels birth:
A fellow artist at the Gallery had made a 3D painting and had used this product and it intrigued me. Then, another artist at the Gallery, a potter, had me construct and hand build a clay project. If you go back a few post to my lotus flower posting you will get the story on that. All that to say that those two artists inspired me to work with my hands on a painting in a three dimensional way that I had not previously tried. Next inspiration came from a client who wanted me to teach her how to paint angels. I had done three mock up paintings of different style angels and was getting quite tired of them when God said, " Ange, why don't you just paint a tired angel then." So I turned my canvas sideways and did just that. I laid her down and made her 3D, just as all those inspiring moments came together to form and birth one little angel. I pulled out the areas closest to you in the modeling paste, painted them, then some of them were lightly sanded.
So there you have it..

Fiday Nights Wine and Paint Class

Here's a pic of this past Friday night's wine and paint class I taught at 16 Main Gallery. The painting was "Old Glory". Class was full! We learned many different techniques again as always. First texturing the canvas, sketching our images onto the canvases then all the different shadings of reds and whites and blues that go into that simple little flag. Shading for dimension and finally antiquing for a faded fabric look. Of course, there's the wine too for those that do.......

New home for an Old Soul

This is one of those paintings that just comes from a different place in my soul. It was done in 2009 and titled Psalm 30 vs 5. Today this painting went to live with a very special lady. You can look back into the history of this painting through my old blogs back to August 2009 I believe to get the story behind the painting. I couldn't have chosen a better place for this painting to be than with this lady. A more sensitive being and in tune individual I have never met. I believe she is a true empathic and uses her gift to the good of all she meets. Sherrie, enjoy. This one was always meant for you.

Progress on The Tired Angel

So here is the latest update on The Tired Angel painting in 3D. Needs a little more tweaking and she's almost there. I brought a couple of my grand daughters down to the studio today and they wanted to touch her. "Please gramma can we touch her?" they cried in unison. Of course I said, "Yes". After all, why do a 3D piece if it cannot be experienced on the physical level ya know? :)

Next Wine and Paint Class

On the Studio Easel

This is what I am working on at the studio downtown at 16 Main Gallery. Up on the easel is "The Tired Angel". She lies reclined, resting on her arm on either a cushy sofa or cloud like surface. All the areas that are close to you are brought out in modeling medium. This stuff is really difficult to work with. What you are seeing here now is a rough portrait of this angel. I will smooth a lot of the areas out with sand paper when they dry a little more. This medium is very sticky though. The next step is to paint this medium. It's supposed to take paint well.
The end product will be a monochromatic dimensional painting with raw sienna in the crevasses for depth and interest, a sort of antiquing effect. It's all a giant experiment and I am Very excited though about it.
When she's finished I'll tell you the story behind her development and birth.

On The Easel

So, I have one third of the crowd in now along the back. The remaining two thirds go along each side of the painting. They will go in next. I've had some fun with them I must say. I even added a red head in there for a bit of interest. Can you spot him?
The biker will be the very last part that I paint as is my pattern to paint the main subject matter last. That way I can see how much pizzazz and color and interest is needed to make it pop as the main focal point of the piece.
See ya next post..........

New on the Easel

Up next on the ole easel is another commission piece I'm working on. This one is for an avid cyclist and this is The tour De' Flanders race I believe, although I may have that mixed up a bit. Anyway, it's a cyclist coming up through a crowd, toward a church there in the distance. The crowd will be waving flags and be full of paparazzi taking pictures and such as the leader of the pack heads toward the finish. All action packed and very sporty. very detailed, but I am enjoying the process non the less.
I will post more pictures as we progress along so you can see the crowd grow and the biker take form too. Oh ya, also gotta round out that front wobbly wheel! Can't win the race on that!
This is an acrylic on a 20"x20" canvas.

The Lotus Flower

Today I made my first clay piece since grade school! One of the potters down at the Gallery took the time to find out about each of all of us artists and our work one day to get to know us better and to be able to help with the clients and their selections as well. He got an idea to have each of us to take a hunk of clay and make something that he would then Raku fire . Just so that we could all get to know his medium as he was getting to know ours. What a wonderful idea and very fun. So this is what came out of my head. A Lotus Flower. I am sure it will most probably not hold up under the firing process but it was VERY fun to make . All the artists have each come up with pieces also reflective of their own unique personalities too. Perhaps they will give me permission to take pictures after the glazing and firing process is done and you all can see. Thank you Ned for the experience.

The Longhorn-SOLD

A couple of days ago I introduced you all to this painting that I had up on the easel, The Longhorn, my neighbors. Remember? Well, I have them pretty darn close to complete now. Thought I give you a chance for comments before I put the clear medium on. Still thinking, upon
reflection, that we may use a bit more definition in those horns on the front cow/longhorn? Whadda you think? Looks a bit "ghosty" yet to me. I could be wrong and maybe I should just leave them be!
They measure 12"x24"x1 1/2" gallery wrap, acrylic on canvas

Well, I did round out that front cow/longhorn's horn a bit more. Now it's to my satisfaction. Perhaps I shall post the fixed picture so you can see in the morning?......