Bentleyville Day 18

Thought I'd give you a look at the whole thing.


I fixed that problem, so squatting guy in the front doesn't have a dunce cap on anymore. It is more aligned with the original photo now, too. I don't know how that tie got so wide, but sometimes if you are not vigilant, creeping errors do find their way in. Check, measure, recheck. That's my motto.




This guy is sort of "painter's choice". The photo was pretty washed out and not a lot of facial landmarks were really left on it. I think I've got a pretty good recreation out of the contours that were visible.

Bentleyville- Day 16

Working the same area, but I think I've got that 3/4ths turned man finally pinned down. I wonder what makes some faces so easy to translate while others are so elusive.



Here is an octopus with a top hat.
You don't see an octopus with a top hat?
Well, it WILL be an octopus with a top hat. You'll see.

Bentleyville- Day 15

Concentrating today with a trio of men. Still shaping up the tall young man's face. I think his jawline has become too narrow. The happy chap to his left shaped up immediately. That's a good boy. But the three quarters turned fellow underneath them is stubborn. I had to redraw him several times over already. We'll get him next time.

Family Portrait - Finished

The finished portrait, and some details.

Family Portrait Day 6

I liked making the sun dappled area on the siding of the house. These pools of light are a little red and lemony, especially around the edges. It looks like a nice place to be. Very picnic-y.

Family Portrait Day 4

Passed the center point. I don't like it when people wear all black and scrunch down. No definition or contrasts. I muddled through the area the best I could.
There's that foreshortened arm, too. Gonna be tough.

Family Portrait Day 3

Spent a fun time defining the arms and legs. Particularly enjoyed the construction of the wrist and the way the hand is laced around the opposite wrist. Also enjoyed the shadows of the dresses on the ladies' legs. The third portrait, the first male portrait, is starting to shape up.

Bentleyville Day 14

I've been working on this tall youngster in the back. I'd say he's about half right. Foolishly, I was taking my original photo around and working off of it. Even outside. Then it started to curl up, and I got pretty frightened that if I didn't put it back in it's folder I was going to end up with some serious damage to my precious artifact. So now I am working from a quick printout and even if it's not true, I feel the resolution is worse. And it's making me grumpy.

Bentleyville Day 13

I think I've got a crush on this guy in the front, in the pinstripes. He looks a little ornery. Like he would be the kind of guy that liked to get you mad, but you would like him anyway.

Bentleyville Day 12

I picked some photos today to show all the hands in this painting. Hands are always a challenge. They always start out looking like a bunch of hot dogs, and then you give them some shape and knuckles and highlights and shadows, but you're never really sure if you are going to end up with hands or just a bunch of sausages when you're done.

Bentleyville Day 9

Maybe not too much in the way of progress, but I thought I'd pull back so you could get a better look. This is a 12" X 16" canvas board.