The Agony of Defeat

Both of these paintings were rejected from the Oil Painters of America national show, 2010....I guess everybody couldn't get in?? 2500+ entries....200 or so selected. I'll keep trying...still pouting for now. I'm a new member so this was my first attempt. I understand they also have regional shows. I advise young artists all the time not to take things like this personally. Getting in a show or winning a prize usually comes down to a decision made by one person on one day...another day, another person and who knows, you might take home the blue ribbon. What are you going to do with a bunch of blue ribbons anyway? Well, it does feel good to win one every once in a while:)
Shown: The Lonely Road 24x36 and Open Book 24x30. Both are for sale...a sale would ease that sting a bit...

2010

The new year. What will it bring? No one knows. One can only hope for the best and go forward with optimism. Open the box!

Final Chapter

Here's a final on "The Open Book" painting. I'm pleased with the results...like the overall feeling. Close up shows hands and book, the intended focus of the painting. 24x30 oil.

Open Book, Chapter 2

Work continues on this painting of Rebecca. I'm liking the shadowy lower left area of the dress, chair and book. I'm not fully happy with the arms and face but really have not worked on those areas much since the early "blocking in" period. 24X30.

Open Book

Sleeping girl with book. Nice moody piece in the early stages. Mostly underpainting...thinned down oil wash indicating general color and value. Some second level detail started in flesh tone areas. I plan to keep most of the painting subdued in tone and value with the area near the book in a stronger light. Model- Rebecca. 24X30.

Buckhead Gallery Walk

A few shots from the Buckhead Gallery Walk. I'm showing at DE Fine Art Gallery. I thought the crowd was pretty good considering so many are gone for the weekend already. I was thrilled with some Newnan folks coming out. Two of my models came...made my night...shown are Chelsea with the ballerina paintings she posed for. Chelsea has been the subject of a number of paintings...6,7,8?...including "Aura" which sold a few months back. Also shown is Rebecca with "Box of Light". Rebecca has posed for at least 5 or 6 paintings including "The Lonely Road". They have both been regular models for the Monday Night drawing class as well. I am honored to be hanging in the same gallery with some of the artists that DE represents. If you are in the Buckhead area, it's time well spent to stop by.

Final

"The Box of Light" is finished with the exception of a couple of details here and there. Here's a better photo...still not great. I plan to have this one framed and ready for the Dogwood Gallery show in the spring. I've redone the photo...looks better. Maybe a tad dark but closer to the original.

The Box of Light

The roots of this painting began after a photo shoot of model Rebecca C (The Lonely Road). The photo reference was normal lighting from a window to the right of the model. The idea of the box being mysteriously lit from within came to me just a few days ago and I went to work. Changing the light source from your reference is challenging. The image shown shows the painting in it's early stages. 24X30. Detail shown.

Why is that girl sitting in the middle of the road?

This painting, "The Lonely Road", is not currently "on the board" but I hear from so many people wanting to know the story behind it that I thought it would be interesting to hear what folks have to say. Why do you think this girl is in evening attire and sitting in the middle of the dirt road? Give me your story!