Male nudes

Three Graces

Working on the landscape elements of this painting has been a way to escape my current health issues. I know from experience that once a health issue crops up, it is easy to get caught up in negative thinking and lose my equanimity. So, I am going to make a concerted effort this time to not start thinking the worst. So far, I have come across a bad doctor, an equally bad cardiac unit of a local hospital, and some truly kind and caring medical professionals. I have to have faith that I will come across more of the latter and not the former as this journey continues. Maybe the Three Graces can help guide me.

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Starting and Finishing

I have been working on this painting for approximately 1 1/2 months. Today I went over some areas that were bothering me: some were too dark, and some edges were not crisp enough. I like the delicate balance between correcting areas and leaving some slightly imperfect. I do this because I enjoy the process of looking at art, specifically drawings, when I gather insight into what an artist was thinking by examining the various marks made. I have posted the beginning charcoal image on canvas I started with, and the final painting.

Two Men with Image of Hecate the Greek Goddess of Magic, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

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Two drawings

in charcoal on canvas. The beginnings of two paintings, with many corrections already, and many more to come.

Charcoal drawing on canvas, beginning of untitled painting, 24 x 30 inches (in process)
Charcoal on canvas, under drawing for Three Graces, 30 x 40 inches (in process; Sammie the puggle in foreground)

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Mostly Finished

There is more to do to make the blue sky look better, but overall am happy with the way this turned out. I feel sometimes as if I am chasing an elusive butterfly, trying for perfection and always falling short. However, these fellows look pretty good, as imperfect as they are.

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This and That

I went to Williamsport, PA recently and got some more inspiration for the Women Playing Baseball series of paintings, as Williamsport is the home of the Little League World Series. Ella Bruning was the most recent girl to play in the Little League World Series, but there have been 19 others. I have worked some more on the Alexander painting. The figure on the right is based on J.T. Realmuto, whose face I like. He will be really good next year, which makes me think about my picks for the two League MVPs. I also include a still life I made for Maryanne, who isn’t feeling well today.

Underpainting of Pathos of Alexander
Vladimir Guerrero Jr
Bryce Harper
Tomato, Mango, Fig

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Beginning, middle, end

These three paintings are in various stages of completion: I just started the painting of the sheep today, while I am working to bring the painting of two male models to completion. Mike’s garden is pretty much done. The most difficult part of painting for me is finishing. I am not sure if it is the actual tasks involved or the anxiety it brings, but I feel aggravated. The questions I ask myself when I am trying to finish a painting add to the frustration. “Are you sure you are done?”; “Can you do better?”; and the old chestnut “Is it really good enough?”

Oil on canvas, 11 x 14 inches, beginning
Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches, 2021, in process
Oil on linen panel, 8 x 10 inches, 2021, complete

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Two models with flowers

After some more painting time, I have tentatively changed the title. I have worked on the two male figures some more and will add some flowers behind and in front of the foreground model: hence the title change. Feel encouraged after showing this for critique at the Artists of Yardley on Wednesday night though it feels like this one is taking forever. That is the problem with getting older; moving slower, and thinking I have to race the clock. I am both the train that could and that slow tortoise. I like the foreground figure’s face, but am afraid it most likely will have to change going forward.

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