Painting You Painting Me

Bill Stanton came over today and painted me while I painted him. Gosh, it's been a while since I painted a human, I had to figure out how, but once I got rolling it was fun. I was trying to capture that concentrated studying-the-subject look that a painter gets. He needs to be more squinty. Doesn't resemble him much--somehow this looks more like Bill Park. If Bill Park was half African-american! And that nose!! I need to forget about painting and just draw about 500 noses. Maybe 5000. Stupid noses. Grr.

Llama Love!

This from photo taken two years ago, somewhere out past Beaverton, during the HPSO (Hardy Plant Society Oregon) showcase garden tour. Gawd llamas are cute. I know, I know--I need to study some llama eyeballs up close. These are---a bit disturbingly!---too human.

November 24, 2014

More "Big 500" entrants

Top:  Begun in June or so, at Reed college, with a paintout group that Craig Srebnik arranged. Final tweaks done to make "Grandaddy Tree" show-ready.

Bottom:  "Mount McLoughlin"  This was barely begun early in early October, at Lake of the Woods, before the chain saws started clearing dead tree branches while the dog went into a frenzy. I moved and painted elsewhere. So this is mostly painted from the grumpy photo I took before stalking off!

Nov. 26, 2014

Sedona workshop; Tim Horn

Shoot, this is all out of chronological order--I forgot to post them. Oh well, here are my three efforts from the awesome 3-day workshop with Timothy Horn in the glorious, chilly, high-desert weather. I just remembered to unpack them, and discovered they were improperly layered in the wet panel carrier (user error!) and arrived home stuck together. Oh well, this was all about the learning, not making paintings. So totally worth it, the week was a blast.

Nov. 14 - 16, 2014

Lithia Park, November

This was done after the Tim Horn workshop--first effort with new techniques. It was for the "Big 500", but I just need to look at it a bit longer. I can see a lot of progress, and am appreciating the influence of the shadow-shape pattern underneath. Hoping it's a marker on my path of progress. Perhaps it will go in next year's show, if I am asked again.

11/22/14

Lithia Park, October

This from a photo from last month--another entrant in the "Big 500". It was posted before, I think, the day I started it. Much contrast and lighting and tweaking has been done now, and I think it's ready for varnish.

"Big 500" entries

These three--along with the pumpkin painting that I posted earlier--were done and left to dry before the workshop. The four need varnishing now, and I've just had a chance to post them.

I need to knock off in a few days, and start speed-drying the rest of the work I do. How many more can I get done in time?

UH-OH. What did I name these? They are delivered now (11/29/14). Something like:
"Where Are We Going?"
"Languid Lake"  
"Beach Zombies"

11/20/14

Candlelight Session

It's been a long time since I've painted in Janet's basement, and in spite of feeling grumpy, hungry and like I'd rather take a nap--I guess this might have potential. I hated it while I was working on it. The paint was too thin, I didn't have payne's grey, blah blah blah. The mental chatter I have to put up with! I'll take another look tomorrow--I might be able to do something with this.

11/2/14

Gesturemania!

Thanks to Jeff at Hipbone, the afternoon flew by with three models and many many short poses--30 sec. to 5 min. each. Pages and pages of quick squiggles. Very fun; these are a couple favorites, of the longer (5-min.!) poses.

11/1/14

Allegory of Halloween

Oh happy day--Kat opened her studio for the Fall figure painting sessions, which will happen twice monthly. I turned my attention to the beautiful pumpkins over in the corner, and couldn't resist painting them instead, even tho' still life is a big unexplored field to me, currently. A "Big 500" entrant.

10/31/14

From the winter studio

The rains have begun, and so I am embarked on some work--inside my cozy studio--for "The Big 500", which opens Dec. 13, 2014. This little painting is one of my favorites that I've ever done. It may not make it into the show, I think it looks nice in my dining room. Hmmm.

10.27/14

Remember those musicians in the Park Blocks?

I think I posted a sketch done in the Park Blocks this summer, during the PAM paintout. Now I've embarked on a painting--from a photo--of that day. I'm focusing on values in this. Almost done.

The 63rd Model Marathon

Not my 63rd, but Hipbone's! Thank you Jeff.  My energy held out for 7 hours... just couldn't hang in there for the last two models. Oh well... more than 20 drawings in one day is pretty OK.

9/14/14

Birthday beach bash

A glorious week out at Lincoln City and thereabouts, with friends, bikes, home plucked tomatoes, great wine and lots of sunshine. And two days at this beautiful spot I found along the Siletz River. Whoo-boy, does this painting ever need work. Well, once again.... posting it for the (mostly) chronological record.

9/10/14

Kevin McPherson Day!

Thanks to Scott at Gamblin, we enjoyed a morning demo by Kevin and an afternoon of painting under the St. John's bridge. This is my effort--unfinished painting number.... how many now? The heat finally compelled me to fold my tent and head home. I appreciated his explanation of lines and angles in constructing the composition. And I need to remember to look up Wendt (Wm Wendt?)

9/6/14

Blue Bee BBQ

What a freakin' GREAT summer! Kat had us up to their Blue Bee Farm and we spread out like a posse, looking for wanted scenes. Plenty to choose from there. I especially loved watching the giant grill and picnic tables go by on the fork lift, as they were moved down to the meadow! The evening BBQ was the best--if I'd known there would be a camp fire, I'd have brought s'mores.

8/26/14

Another day, another paintout

I was not an official entrant at the Hood River paintout, but I couldn't resist a visit up the gorge. Anton's haircut prompted me to get my gear out of the car and have a go at painting this great painter. I had to be fast tho', because he paints fast! And then he left, and I kept painting... and he started to look like a girl, so I stopped. I should/ve quit about 20 min. earlier; that's one of the perils of this line of business!

9/4/14

Hanno's back yard

Hanno's place down in Eugene is very tranquil, I love to sit out back there and stare across the field to the low hills in the distance. This was painted in broad daylight. I was sorry to have missed the super moon, so I made up one of my own. This painting is called "High Noon Moon".

8/15/14

Blackberry Bouquet

What the heck is this?! I don't know, but it sure was fun. Thank you Bill Stanton for sharing the day. Your painting was awesomeness; mine is here for the record.

8/12/14

Serenade at the Tuilleries

Many superb painters out at the PAM's Paris in  the Park Blocks plein air competition. I crashed the party and enjoyed the day, the friends, the serenade, and the people-watching from a shady park bench--while I sketched this.

8/9/14

Nothing says summer like a paintout at the coast

My first (Eric) Sandgren Paintout adventure out at the coast. Yachats, Seal Rock, Port Alsea. Friends--old and new--beautiful weather, good food, lots of talent to appreciate. Two thumbs up! These are my efforts for the week.

7/17 - 7/21/14

Grandfather Tree

Joined Craig Srebnik and other painters at Reed College, and this tree caught my attention with its formidable weight and presence.

7/15/14

Laurelhurst Paintout

From a paintout with the usual suspects on a glorious temperate day. Friends, food, paint. Life is good.

7/2/14

Lavender Fields Forever

It's that Lavender Festival time of year again! Out in the field today for a short paintout. A half dz. friends, some wine and sunshine, and some paintin' time; what could be better?

7/3/14