Remember this painting from before I began the mural? (I certainly hope so, since I showed it to you yesterday with a few trees completed on the left.) I finished landscaping the distance. (Maybe. There’s always room for improvement.) Then I texted Mr. J. (the customer) with a photo and this question: “Can you say […]
Meanwhile, Back in the Painting Workshop
Why “painting workshop”? Because I don’t paint in the studio. I draw in the 11×13’ studio; painting is too messy for that little space. Since I am taking a break from the library mural, I now have time to return to the oil painting commissions. We finally had a sunny day, which made it much […]
Library Mural, Day Six
If you subscribe to my blog, you probably received an email last night about a new post. It is scheduled to publish on Friday, but I hit the wrong button. Then I immediately rescheduled it. So, you may have read Friday’s already (or you may have no idea at all what I am talking about […]
Library Mural, Day Five
From solid blue sky to wispy clouds. Sky and mountains are the farthest away, and I think they are finished. Next closest is the orange grove. Oy vey, those leaves! Very very cold day. The garbage truck went up and down the street about 8 times. There were roosters crowing. The little pickup with the […]
Library Mural, Day Four
Intern returned, so we studied the wall together and discussed the next step. He put a base coat on Twin Buttes, and I worked on the mountains south of Alta Peak, since I got a few semi-helpful photos on Friday. Together we mixed the color of the background of the packing label. Intern was SHOCKED […]
Library Mural, Day Three
Intern had other obligations, so I was on my own again. First things first: what is that little doghouse on a post, secured in a tire? I sent a photo to the previous librarian for the answer. She replied thus: “It was a community event that we kept seeds and but of course it didn’t […]
Long Distance Commission, Chapter 3
This project progress took place before I started the mural on the Ivanhoe library. This might be the first time I have ever put a canvas on the drawing table and measured out exactly where everything is supposed to go. When I had enough pencil guidelines on the canvas, I took it out to the […]
Library Mural, Day Two
Brrr, BRRR, and BRRR! In driving the 35 miles down to the mural yesterday, I learned that the defroster in Momscar* is INSTANTLY effective, and I actually used the seat warmer, which seems like an ultra luxurious feature. Now I just need to figure out which button makes heat land on my feet. Step by […]
Library Mural, Day One
I got to the library at 8:45 to survey the lay of the land. Muddy. Significant log. Big roots to NOT trip over. What’s that weird little box on a pole? Could it be a Little Free Library, right here at the library? After I unloaded the ladders, I realized that the wall was full […]
Long Distance Commission, chapter 2
After my conversation with customer Mr. J about all the special things on his former house, I did a new sketch, this time a bit more careful with all the details. Usually a loose sketch works for oil paintings, but this job requires more. Mr. J requested that I send him the two sketches when […]