Painting #3

Into Painting 3 of the series, and I am liking where it is going.  I think I am going to sketch the next painting and come back to this one.  This semester has been so jam packed.  I feel things are starting to slow down, but they will soon speed up again.  I plan to take this week to focus on the series more.

Still need to add the last finishing touches to Painting 2.

Painting #3

acrylic 24 x 48 inches

I plan to have my show the last weekend of January. I have all of Christmas break to work on the pieces.  I am considering adding some graphic pieces.  And definitely several watercolor.  I plan to work on those more during the break.

-Jessie

Painting 2 continued/Started Painting 3 and MAEA

Another session spent on the second painting.  I'm afraid I have lost the audience in the background.  I think I may need to change her outfit too??  

hmmmm.....

Started the 3rd painting.  This went quick. Drawing, maybe 30 minutes, and the painting, maybe another  45.  

 Some recent inspiration

I attended the MAEA conference with a good friend this last weekend.  Soooo much fun!

A bunch of Art teachers collaborating and creating.

 I borrowed these pictures from the MAEA facebook page.

The center piece I painted and                                                             the banner my friend, Lana, and I painted.

MAEA auctions off the banner and centerpieces at the Spring conference to fund scholarships.

                                                              -Jessie

Painting 1 finished and started #2

Finally finished this piece (first in the series)!

It wasn't exactly what I was envisioning, but definitely works.

Acrylic 

____________________________________________________________________

 I have a Jewelry class this semester.

Thought I would include some of my pieces 

from that class.

All of my art influences one another.

I also draw influence from

watching other artists work.

The creativity that happens from collaboration

is sometimes mind-boggling 

and very rewarding :) 

________________________________________________________________

This is the next piece.  Also, acrylic. I like where it is going so far.  I've been swamped with so many hours (6 classes) this semester and trying to prepare for student teaching next semester.

I also have a family (3 kids and a hubby).  I am definitely feeling the burn now.

It will all be worth it...

I get to be in the classroom every Tuesday (teaching art).  Those days get me through :)

                                 

 -Jessie

My Model and more process

 I have been working on this acrylic for a while. Longer than I meant to. I have been allowing things to distract me. Not just random things, but things that DO need attention. (I take several other classes And have a family).

 Every time I go to this painting, I just wouldn't feel it.  Here is the last session:

Today I attempted again.  Actually felt closer to it.  I think I have the concept so wrapped up in my head and all the other paintings (still to come), that it is hard to focus on just the one.

I used a lot of yellow today.  I must have been in a good mood, lol.

Still have a couple of more layers (flowers and misc), but tomorrow I think I'm going to lay out the next painting. I have the canvas ready.  My fear: the next one kind of feels like this one....  

 This is my model :)  I didn't notice the finger until I printed the picture. hehehehe...

I have lots of other pictures that I have been using.  Looking at this one now, the shadows are way better.  It's the wrong angle, but I think I will use it.  Picking his nose may even fit the concept.. no, too much, lol.

Painting: I chose to paint noisy in the background and keep the subject clearer.  If you could see the painting in person, you could see what I am saying easier.  I don't normally paint with black, but have chosen to use it in the backgrounds only of this series. I think it will add to the mood.

First Watercolor in the Series and some Inspiration

    I've been working on developing my concept further and choosing subjects this week.  I pull inspiration from the people around me, specifically ones I love. 

    I taught a beginners Acrylic class at the local gallery ("Essence of Georgia O'Keefe").  They brought in a picture of a favorite flower and they learned basic color mixing and brush strokes.  It was a great time and a good pick-me-up for me.  I love watching peoples' art process.

   

This is my mom. And this was her very first painting, and I got to teach her!  :) 

 My mom is definitely an inspiration and she continues to teach me. And, she is honest and patient with me.  lol, I need that most of the time!

We took our kids camping this weekend, and I picked wildflowers for my paintings and took pictures (because they will be gone before I get to paint them).

I finished a watercolor in my series this week.  "Teen Beauty"

The colors got a little muddier than I wanted, But, that kind of works with the series, so I didn't mind.

                                                                                                                         -Jessie B

Chasing Butterflies

My biggest flaw is what I like to call "chasing butterflies." Basically, it is getting distracted.  I have so many thoughts and ideas running through my mind, that I get distracted by them easily. When I'm teaching, I have to watch myself.  If an interesting topic gets brought up ("a butterfly") I chase it.  Sometimes it is a teachable moment (of course, every moment can be a teachable moment, right!? ;).
I've been chasing butterflies trying to pick a solid concept for my painting series. So many great ideas.  Every time I pick one, other "butterflies" keep flying in my path.  I think I finally caught one though and am going to focus.  Of course, I've thought that 3 times now...  NO, going to focus.

I painted the under of the subject on the acrylic and started a watercolor this week.

Also, I finally got some money to replenish all of my supplies. Yay!!

I was thinking about moving the backpack to his other side, but now I think I'm going to rotate his hips and put his other foot on top.  That way it brings his hand forward more.

I also need to decide what I'm going to do with that background. Normally, there are houses there, but I don't want all that noise.  Probably just trees. 

I always do skin first, but this time I went straight to the hair. What was I thinking, lol.  I'll make it work.

Painting 1 of series: First layer

I paint in layers.  It can be fairly systematic, but I strive for it not to be.  The first layer is the first layer of the background.  I work from background to foreground. A typical painting, for me, has 6 layers.
My color usage really depends on my mood and what my palette gives me.  I can make any color by seeing it (or thinking of it) and just adding colors until I make it. While mixing, I use as few of colors as possible, to keep the colors more pure.

Here is the first painting session after drawing the initial outline:

The painting is 36in/48in.

The kid is almost life-size.