Updates of various kinds

     I've been neglecting blogging all around.  I just haven't felt motivated to write and I've been questioning the purpose of some of my blogs.  I may continue to neglect my other blog but I feel I may expand what I write about on here. 
     Right now I'd like to give a pseudo update on my painting or lack there of.  I hit a creative and practical block with it.  On the practical side I had to toss one of my favorite paintbrushes because the bristles decided they wanted to live inside the ferrule from now on.  I really liked the gel hand grip on that too, and it would seem they just don't sell them anymore.  I got very attached to that type of brush and I'm having a hard time settling on a new one.  Also the more I look at the painting the less excited I am about it, I have some serious compositional issues that I thought were resolved in my head.  Really they are not I'd like to be more abstract with my work because that does seem to be very "in" right now but it bugs me.  I know it will look unfinished to me.
     I did a good bit of thinking though on my art in general because of the painting.  I've decided I don't need to finish it, and maybe I don't need to paint at all.  I have it in my head that I must paint (in oils), but I don't.  I really enjoy colored pencil, charcoal will always be favorite for me, but for right now I think I should focus on colored pencil work.  I do have a bunch of canvases, though I was thinking maybe I could try working in colored pencil on them.  I used colored pencil on canvas paper before and that worked out well.  I may return to painting again, though I think my style might be better suited for acrylic. Still I think if I focus on colored pencil work I can explore some of the conceptual ideas that I had.
     I should be posting more work up here soon, I might pick up some ATC blank card papers soon.  It ties into my drawing a day idea.  I still need to do some sketches for that.  I'm going to think on the concept for some larger pieces and maybe start sketching out some of the ideas from my notes.

Inspiration

I was reading a review of a local exhibition, that includes work of one artist I particularly admire.  I had the opportunity to be taught by her in high school.  She inspired me then, she showed us these amazing drawings from her thesis in college.  I loved the story of the progression of her series.  Ever since I've been longing to create my own series, something that would grow organically on it's own.  Of course I haven't yet achieved that, I start simple but it doesn't seem to grow.  My jewelry series seemed to peak before it was over.  I keep producing portraits but not many are really that connected to the other.  Mostly I'm still exploring form and light, trying to perfect my technique, striving for the perfect realism and likeness.  I just seem to be falling short on concept, especially when it comes to a series. I think I need to look more for inspiration.  I should finish reading The Power of Art. I've been trying to keep up more with current art, I've been reading a few more of my blog subscriptions and trying to keep up on some art world news. 
I need to do some more reading, and some more research.  I also need to sort through my ideas and refine some.  I have many ideas written down, I should do some sketching soon.  I should also get back to work on my painting, some supply malfunctions have slowed me down.

Submissions and painting

     I painted a little today, I was experiencing from frustration with my lighting today and also it seems the colors are getting a bit muddy since the layers aren't drying very fast.  I thought the heat would help speed the drying time, but no such luck.  I have been working everyday, so I'm very happy about that.  I'm still debating some parts of the composition, but I'll figure that out later.
     Right now I'm focusing on another round of submissions, I just put in two submissions.  Two different works, to two different magazines.  I still have a whole list to work through on submitting to, and I'm working through another list to find magazines to submit to.  It's definitely an interesting process.

More updates all around

 

I spent a bit of time working on my painting today.  I feel like I would have spent more time on it but I was a bit burnt out after fighting with different programs trying to update my website.  Anyway I feel like I made some good progress moving the nose and the second eye is pretty good, the iris needs to be a little smaller overall and the eye itself needs to be a little wider.  The mouth is the only major facial feature that needs to moved, though after the nose I don't think it will be that bad.  I think due to coloring the second eye looks completely disconnected from the first but I feel when I start adding finishing touches to both they'll come together.

The website editing was due to my need to add my last drawing "Mr. and Mrs."

Busy

     Unfortunately I haven't been busy with my art, though I have been thinking about it plenty.  I've resolved some of the issues I was having with my painting, mentally.  I now have a plan for the color scheme and composition, I also have my next drawing planned out.  I have decided that I need to start working everyday, even if it's not very long, just every day.  I haven't started that though, because I've been very busy with my family, trying to help out with things, and then I've been too tired to work.  I need to get over that and just start by working on my painting today.  Then I'll have to work the next day as well, then if I can keep making time over the weekend, I'll have to keep it up. 
     I still don't have my last drawing up, mostly because I still haven't spoken to the models about getting permission.  Though it hasn't been for lack of trying they've just been a little hard to touch base with, though of course I understand they've been busy as well.  Hopefully I'll have an answer one way or the other for that before I finish my painting.

Painting update

I'm still not sure how I envision the final product.  I really like the background right now, though I'm not sure about the limited palette idea I was starting to warm up to now.  I may be using this limited palette as an underpainting then adding in other colors in subsequent layers.  I think I need to fix some proportions on this as well with the cheek and the left eye.  Anyway I think it's a good start.

New painting

     I started a painting today, I may start a drawing later this week too.  I'm not sure if I can give a painting my full focus and when I start getting into thicker layers I might need something else to work on while it's drying.  So far I'm happy with my progress so far.  I'm trying something new with this.  I'm working with a simple composition and I'm working in layers.  I did a small experiment with the background and I like it.  I don't think I'd mind it so much if part of the portrait feathers into that space.  It might look nice.  Also as of right now the proportions of the photo don't match those of the canvas so I am going to have to get creative with the extra space.  So far I don't think it looks that bad, I was just working with some light washes, in warm colors (yellow, orange, red and brown).