"Krissy" completed

Krissy, 14x18" oil on canvas board. Click for detail. This didn't photograph very well, the background is actually a much deeper green, so you can guess that the figure is a bit washed out as well. I'll do a re-take when it's drier. I changed the necklace to green turquoise to complement the subjects green eyes.

Friday

I'm really fighting this piece today. Since I wasn't feeling so hot yesterday, I had to stop and the paint got a little too dry. Honestly, I'm not sure this one is going to make it. I may have to start again. But I will not be defeated if I can work it out. I'm going to press on and see what comes of it.
It's looking better but the problem is that it doesn't look like Krissy. That's a pretty big problem. Much work to do.
Better, I need to take a break, I think I'm just too close to it and I can't see the things that I'm missing that make the subject, "her". I'm working from a photo and in the photo the subject is wearing glasses but I'm painting her without them, that's one issue but by far, not the only one.


Improving. Changing the shape of the chin by a tiny amount, the eyes too-every little sliver of a bit matters when you're doing a portrait. I'm going to keep pressing on with this and at this point I do think I'll be able to work out the issues.

"Krissy" and Christmas cookies

Working on this 14x18" oil today. Here's a pic of the underpainting:
And now with the dead color, which I like to call the "ghost layer":

Initial skin tone layer:Now, have to go roll out Christmas cookies. Back later for more exciting flesh tones. I know, you can't wait.

Here's my New Mexico christmas cookies all rolled out. And yes, I used a chilli pepper cutter. Because, why wouldn't I?

The finished cookies taste very good...they're really light on flavor, I think, just some anise and cinnamon. But they look hideous so I'm not going to show you the finished product. My Mom says they look like roasted chilli peppers because of the messy brown cinnamon top coating.

Ok, later today, I've just started the first shading. I'm not feeling well though so I give up for today. I'll get back on that horse tomorrow after some needed rest.

Some Ghost Ranch pictures

I'm continuing on a new portrait today, so to waste time when I should be working (I'm also making New Mexico traditional anise christmas cookies while I should be painting.), I'll take a few minutes to upload some pictures of a sunnier, warmer...oh so warmer time this past summer at Ghost Ranch.

This is an amazing bench. It's carved out of one big piece of sandstone. She the layers of color running through it? Click on it to enlarge for the money shot.
Just pretty, no?

From the top of the Mesa by Tumbleweeds cottage.


You can't see it so well here but this adobe bench is embedded with tiles and bits of mirror that make up gleaming suns, an here and there, the makers built in little dips or holes and these fill with water when it rains and the birds come and drink from the bench. So sweet!


This is a view through the gate of Ghost Host, looking out to Pedernal Mountain.

I don't know who this dude is but I like him. I always say hi when I walk by him.

Ok, must go work. Have a super day and I hope you have sun and heat wherever you are. And if you do, will you send me a ticket?

Jennifer and Oliver, completed portrait

Jennifer and Oliver, oil on 14x18" canvas board
Click image for detailed shot

Wednesday

Went to sleep at midnight, up at 5 a.m. working this morning. I'm posting this pictures from my iphone, which does a really stellar job...but in reality, the colors are richer in this portrait. I'm looking forward to posting a final picture of this piece with the color and contrast corrected. I'm liking it thus far. Today I'm working on the Oliver part of the painting, then on to clothes, hair, background and finishing touches.

I'll be adding update pics today, in this post, removing the previous pic as I do. The above pic will remain to show the starting point for today.

And the progress pic for Wednesday:

I found these really cool little ceramic dishes to store my leftover bits of paint in. I love them because they take up just a little space and they're easy to hold and transport. Perfect for when I get over-enthusiastic and mix up too much of a color. It's nice to get the chance to use up the rest of the paint the next day instead of starting over with another mix of oils.

Twenty Degrees and Sunny

Got the ghost face going on-the dead coat in the top pic. Maybe I'll be able to make some serious progress on this piece today. It's great to have many hours to work. When my husband is traveling without me, as he is for the next several days, I can work as long as I can sit in this chair.

It's very cold here but it's sunny and beautiful as I sit here working, looking out the window. It's not raining and the skies are blue. That makes it a good day.

I have a travel day coming up so am wanting to finish this portrait, if possible, and do the underpainting for several more paintings so I can haul them all back home to New Mexico where I'll finish everything I've started. (Would that this were really true with everything in my life.) Since I can't haul anything that's wet in my big canvas portfolio bag, I may end up taking 6 pieces that are in the beginning stages..thereby feeling I have nothing to show for my whole work week. But that's just me in my very "type A" brain.

I'm just going to keep updating the picture of recent progress on this double portrait as I take them, pulling off the last one, putting up the newest. It helps ME to see it third person, and it makes me feel like I'm getting something done. Click for detail.