1 month without painting

Wow! It has been a month since I painted! A lot is happening in my life right now. The artist inside me is frustrated but at the same time helpless! He wants to get out of his prison and dive into the world of color and dreams. Unfortunately, reality is harsh right now, and the artist has to stay locked in. I miss him and he misses his freedom. Oh well, I hope he understands it is only temporary. I hope he doesn't wither away and disappear!

Jude Alexander

This is my son Jude. The painting started with carefully studied washes along the background, using viridian green and rose madder. Then I put a base wash over the carpet made of warmer colors, cadmium red and aureolin. The face started with rigid strokes with a small brush. After an hour of painting, I started feeling lethargic and hungry. I felt I was working and not having fun, so I took a large brush and started throwing colors fast, splashing reds and blues. The hands disappeared all of a sudden, but I didn't care as the focus needed to be on the face. I think having a good composition and color scheme eventually dominated the angry anxious brush strokes. At some point I wanted to throw the painting away. I took a break, ate some breakfast, then when I came back, I was surprised that I actually did a good painting. It does look like him too!!

Eastport

This is from a photo one my artist friends took from Eastport. There were some buildings in the background that I have eliminated. I wanted to convey a sense of cold and isolation. Still I wanted to have some color. I think I did a good job with this one.

Another snow interpretation

This is the same house from last post, but I decided to create a whole new painting without limiting myself to the photo. Which one is better? Could you see the snow flakes?

More snow paintings

These are 2 quick paintings 14X11. Each probably took about 30min to an hour. I am not sure if I would call them paintings or studies.

Eastport

This is from a picture a friend took. Painting from a picture is difficult. I decided to print the photo in black and white so I could have the freedom of expressing my colors. The house in the front is in shadow, while the garage thing in the back is in the direct sun. The fog in the back is blurring the horizon over the ocean. The photo I took of this painting is from my phone, not bad, but as usual the actual painting is much more colorful with rich blues.

Winter painting

This is from a picture I took from Mackworth Island which is across the ocean from where I work. I was surprised to see how many people were hiking that day. It was sunny, so it must have not been that cold, I guess. I think the technique is good, I am not sure if it appeals to anybody, but I could just hope.

Sketches and experiments in oils

At lunch time, I go downstairs and sketch on a piece of paper the everchanging ocean at Martin's point. I am trying to translate these sketches into paintings. Without the help of a camera, you have to rely on your memory and creativity. I also bought these cheap golden frames from Michael's and I'll try to see how the final products would look in those frames. I took the pictures quickly so I can post this as I haven't posted for a while, so I appologize for the low quality of the photos..One of the photos is of the blue berry barrens from a sketch that I did when I lived downeast..

Self Portrait

When I look at a picture, I feel it is so easy to paint. However, the reality of watercolors is very harsh!! After a careful drawing, you start to paint, and things go out of hand. I had a different vision in my mind for this painting, but I am posting it any way.

Random Subjects

Passing Shower

I bought this book from Marden's for 3 dollars. It is a collection of photos about "Work". The pictures are great. This is of a goat herder from Syria. It brought childhood memories to me. We used to visit my aunt in Syria during summer break. She had a simple but hard life. She had a pinkish brown goat that she used to milk in the morning. I know some people dislike the taste of goat milk, but the whole experience of milking, then heating the milk, with a thick cream layer on top, was magical to my childhood eye. A young herder would come to the village and pass by the houses, then he takes their goats to the desert where they feed on wild bushes.
In this picture, the sun is trying to break through, while a light shower is still passing over this herder and his children..

Bucks Haabah

This is from Bucks Harbor around my old house in Down East Maine..The area is desolate but very inspiring..This is probably around March last year, or like they say Maaash..

Stormy weather

2 new paintings

Last week I destroyed 2 paintings..This week I tried to be patient..It is hard to paint while running after the kids, but I managed it!! The lines may be skewed because I took the pictures from a weird camera angle..The real paintings are more perspectively correct..

Watercolor tragedies

This weekend I spent a good amount of time on two paintings..Both were going great. However, right at the end, the final touches, both were destroyed..I did have some "distractions" which I attribute to this disaster!! My advise: if you are not in the mood or getting tired or distracted, leave the Watercolor alone!! Come back the next day with a fresh heart and finish the job!!

Cape Neddick Lighthouse

I am working on a few paintings for our new medical center. We'll be moving in November, but I have to submit them before the end of this month. This is the first one. I got the picture from the internet. The sky in the picture was completely blue, so I created the clouds. Also, the picture had a small red shed and a white picket fence. I eliminated them as I thought they would create a compositional imbalance. I am trying to convey a sense of early spring, where the winter clouds are still lurking around, but the sun bravely shines and tries to kill the chill in the air..

Weekend Painting

I finished the Vietnamese Guy w the cigarette..The other one I did on Klimanjaro paper I just bought... It is much cheaper than Arches and still professional grade..I think I am happy with the results..

Cigarette

Shirt still needs to be painted, but I wanted to post it any way..

Martinspoint..

These are 3 recent paintings..I have done a few other sketches but decided not to blog them..

The brick building is Martinspoint Health Center in Portland. This is where I work as a physician. I went yesterday morning into an island called Mackworth Island, and I did the 2 landscape paintings. The other one is facing south east..There was this sail boat that stayed in position for an hour so I was able to put in the picture. The tide kept on changing, and the sun was making me lethargic, but I decided to finish them on the spot!


The third is a painting of Gabriel, my son. I wanted to achieve an old movie character to it, so I laid an orangy wash over the whole paper. Then I started with the details.. I feel that I got too technical, so I am abandoning it for now. Watercolors need to be fresh and never overworked. I will consider working on it again later, otherwise it might join the rest of the paintings in the unwanted portfolio...And yes, he was sticking his tongue out!!

New paintings

Watercolor

This is a 10X14 done in roughly 25 minutes including sketching time..I thought it was good for someone who hasn't painted in a while!

Jude

I didn't mention that God has blessed us with a new son, Jude. This is my first painting of him. God bless and protect our children, they are so precious!!

Gaby Again

I did this very quickly with no planning at all. I almost threw it away as it doesn't look a lot like Gaby. However, it was a nice spontaneous exercise. May be I'll keep it for now!!

Gabe

Kennebec Rd Version 2

This is another version from my last post.
I like this version better.
In the real painting you could almost feel the sunny summer haze. The colors are also more transparent and in harmony. The camera again did not do this painting justice!!

Landscape

This is from a picture I took while driving home from Work in Machias..I have painted the same view a few times before. I started with transparent washes, and everything was going great. Then the foreground gave me some trouble. I glazed the foreground several times trying to achieve the right tone and color, but I ended up with a muddy look. A piece of advise: Learn to stop!! I think I should have stopped when everythng was looking good. It still looks OK I think!!

Moved

We moved to a new house recently..Basically needed some more space. The house we were renting was very small for 2 dogs, a baby coming anytime soon, and a child running all over the place. So, between the move, and long hours at work, I have not been able to do any paintings!!! I am going to try to do one this weekend. Probably, people are getting tired from seeing my sad looking portrait!!

Self Portrait

Portland

This is on congress street near the Museum! I would have liked the buildings to be a little more transparent..It still looks OK I guess!

New Portrait